I have recently split from my partner of 10 years (2 young children) it was mutual and I've claimed single parent pensions etc. We have started counselling to work around a few issues we had & improve our relationship for our kids. If in a years time we are both in the right headspace to reconcile (providing we actually want to) do I have to pay everything back to centrelink?
7 Replies
I am in the same situation currently, we have just been separated for six months and he's renewed the lease on his place because he is still not ready to be a major part of our family. We haven't undergone counselling but I have for myself I am trying to get him to go to one on his own first and then see if he will go to one together. As far as I know you should not have to repay any money as you are right now and until you get back together a single mum. Once you decide to reconcile though make sure you tell center link asap so they don't over pay you once you are back on,
No you don't have to repay
Well i, for one now have a $6000 debt to centrelink because they now don't believe my partner and i were seperated back in 2011-2012 financial year !!! we were seperated for 8 months, we're back together now and I have just been informed yesterday of this debt. not really sure what i'm supposed to do? :/
Same happened to me.. Partner and I split, he was in the army living in army housing and because he didn't tell his boss we had split and he was living in army accommodation 4 bed house, centrelink took that as we weren't split (their only evidence) and I now have a 10k debt... Bastards
You can appeal most decisions. Also if you have proof that you were maintaining separate households eg two separate leases in your names, two electricity bills etc.
Same happened to me. They now hit me with a 9k debt claiming hubby and I werent seperated last year :-/
Hello! It's Kelly here from the Imperfect Mum team... I would recommend giving Centrelink a call for this one. I know it takes a while to get through sometimes, but it would be much better to do this then be given wrong information and have to pay a fine.
I wish you and your partner all the best. Big hugs! xKelly