I have come to the conclusion that certain government agencies need a major rethink of their rules and policies....to be polite.....
I receive a letter from them in DECEMBER a few days before xmas - relating to Possums income for the 2009/2010 period.
Maybe I'm a bit slow, but aren't we already 6 months into that???
The letter states that if his income is greater than $12,700 (which it will be) then I will be made to repay EVERY CENT of family tax benefit A I recieved for him.
It's not adjusted, if they earn $1 over the limit you have to repay the lot......
I get a piddly amount, but over 12 months it will still be a debt I don't need/ shouldn't have.
We're not the 'out for all you can get' type of people, we just estimate our income, do our tax and they give us what they give us.....there have been a few years where we would have been in a hole without what we received though......
I'm not arguing the rules - I'm arguing the timing.
Yes, he does earn over their limit - not sure how they came up with the amount but anyway.....
I sent 3 different emails asking for them to simply send me a link to their website, so that I can change my payment options.....oh no.....that would be too hard, even though each reply said it can be done easily and done anytime.......
Finally they rang me Christmas Eve.
The girl I spoke to was really nice, and patient and as I said to her it's not her fault, she doesn't come up with this shit - but why the hell couldn't they have sent me this in JUNE??
I also went on to say that there is no encouragement or incentive for the kids to work with the policies they have.
I told her NOT ONE of Possums friends that can get youth allowance actually works - well why would they???
I went on to say that we do the right thing, he has worked bloody hard for the last two years while still in high school and through college, always declaring what he earns putting in his tax returns etc and they go and pull this crap smack bang in the middle of the financial year - what the hell??????
So the story ends with me telling them not to give me a cent for Possum until the end of the finanacial year - and hopefully I won't owe them anything.
I'll be glad when Small Man turns 16/18 (depending if he goes to college etc) and hopefully I won't have to have any dealings with them at all til I'm all old and stuff......
Grrr......
G
xx
5 comments:
Yerch!
I know your headache!
I got the same letter G, luckily for me, my daughter won't be earning as much as that. Did you get the one that says that if they dont have their Yr 12 Certificate, then you cant get anything for them at all!! Go the government. Lets hit the parents!! Nice one. Dickheads.
Luv JEn
xoxo
Jayne ~ it's a definite stuff up I think....typical....
Jen ~ Yes I got that one - thank god he got his certficate. I wonder if you have to pay it all back if they don't get their year 12 cert? Pressure, pressure....
G
xx
Who makes up these rules? I know I didn't vote for them, have never received any payment whilst GG lived, studied and worked away from home, yet while she lived at home with us, did get basic payment. Before she moved away that is: once she moved away then came back because she couldn't afford to live away (and so ceased the studying part), we were eligible for nothing.... such great incentive to try to achieve something in your life.... She has worked since she was 15 as well...
I cancelled family payment when The Powers That Be decided that I was eligible for $14.62 each fortnight.... pffft
It's crap: Yr 12 just isn't appropriate for all kids: the government is shirking their responsibility (that we pay for) and the families whodon't take responsibility for their own lifestyle for themselves or their kids get all the benefits.
Governments ... can't live with 'em .. can't live without 'em.
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