Centrelink Mail

Ellice · Senior Member

Centrelink Mail

Anvid · Veteran Member

How do nomads receive their important mails? We have a postal mail box and have a friend forward the mail to us when we are in one place for a period of time which is only several times a year. confuse

Today was one of those great days when we received our mail - over twenty items, including several from Centerlink. They know that we are 'in transit' but they send their letters and state that if they don't hear from us within a set period - that they will stop payments. Isn't that blackmail?? They have done it once and then back paid us several months later. They are one of the most annoying government departments for what little they give us. We have to prove our affairs over and over with them as they don't accept what they have been previously advised. One one occasion, they sort of admitted that they made a mistake due to someone being new in the office.

How can we consider them to senior/pensioner friendly? We would better off to be an over aged boat visitor. disbelief

Old Crofter · Senior Member

Thought that centrelink was a federal dept, if you go into any centrelink office in this country and give them your reference number they should be able to log into your file which will be upto date, they can update your file from any terminal in Aust or they should be able to. Do not forget that they cross refere ATo and other gov depts so what I have indicated should be achievable. Would like to hear if it is otherwise

Bob

colsa · Senior Member

We've had our centrelink mail sent to our email address for over 6 years now with no problems, they always need to have somewhere to send new pension cards but we always change our address on line when we move and so they know where we are to post them out. Good luck.

Happywanderer · The Master

I am registered with Centrelink Online. All my mail comes to me online. I get an email telling me there is a letter from them online, I log in and there it is.
I can also see what my next payemnt is, all my last payments and any other history I have with them.

Pejay · Guru

I too have found Centrelink very frustrating, I am the EPOA for my mother who is in a nursing home with dementia, but each time I ring, I get told that I am not down as her EPOA!!! And I need to furnish them with the necessary paperwork - I did this 4 years ago after my father passed away. But the best one was them wanting to verify my authority by speaking with my father!! He had died the week before! And I am STILL having to justify my position with 'em! Not happy June!!

Roving-Dutchy · Guru

If your on the road fulltime or even part time it's worth setting up for all your bills and statements to be delivered online also direct debit is great way to pay all bills, been doing this for more than 10 years and there has been no errors or missed payments, have also now have all my bills on a monthly basis makes it much easier to to ensure there is sufficent money in the direct debit account as it is almost the same amount to be set aside each month,Centrelink is also sending all notices online.
Cheers
David

Dreamcaster51 · Senior Member

We have always got 'online letters' from Centrelink since I have been on my pension. It was the only way to go when we were full time on the road. It works for you as well. You might get into a park on Friday night and not be able to tell Centrelink until Monday morning, your rent assistance will start when you tell them. BUT if you change your addy online Friday when you arrive then notify them Monday you will get rent ass from Friday. (providing you lodge a form within 14 days)
Guy there are a few people that probably should not work for Centrelink but the vast majority of them are very helpful. The old adage that 'you catch more flies with honey' is very true, the boys and girls that work there have to put up with more sh*t than you know, from personal threats to physical violence.
Go in with a smile, say hi and thank you, for the help, advice etc. you will be surprised how easy the system really works. Speak to an advisor for your financial questions, it's free and they will steer you right to get any benefit you are initialled to.
That's my two bobs worth, have a great day and safe travels everyone.

brickies · Guru

I have to agree with you Dreamcaster , Centrelink does a great job treat them right they will treat you right , They have guide line to follow if you fit the guide line they will pay

Anvid · Veteran Member

Thank-you everyone for your thoughts about being 'on-line' for Centrelink updates/letters. We will seriously consider that.

It is great to hear that we aren't the only ones that have had frustrations with them in the past and we too have heard of some good experiences.

We trust that our colleagues will enjoy their travels and stay safe! biggrin smile

gypsy rover · Senior Member

I use a mail forwarding company for my mail and Centrelink has that address as my postal address. I also receive all Centrelink letters on line, but pension cards etc. go to the mail forwarders which are then sent to me where ever I happen to be.

Cheers!

Chris

woolman · Guru

When Centrelink insisted that they talk to my deceased father I sent them a photo of head stone with plot number and advised them to contact him direct. It did work.

Neil

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Pejay wrote:
I too have found Centrelink very frustrating, I am the EPOA for my mother who is in a nursing home with dementia, but each time I ring, I get told that I am not down as her EPOA!!! And I need to furnish them with the necessary paperwork - I did this 4 years ago after my father passed away. But the best one was them wanting to verify my authority by speaking with my father!! He had died the week before! And I am STILL having to justify my position with 'em! Not happy June!!

June, dont bother phoning them, you get somebody at a call center which could be anywhere. My partner had similar EPOA problems during his late wife's illness.Go in to see them whenever you need to, and just keep that EPOA document in the file you take in with you. Face-to-face, we've always been treated well, but over the phone I think they are trained to disbelieve everything you say.

lizard · Veteran Member

Well , applied for our low income health care card end of March, still waiting , no contact from them by phone or mail or on line letters , have rang them a number of times and supplied required info .... now my internet connection is too slow to open their contact page ... also they have listed a home phone number that we got rid of 16 months ago - I have tried 5 times to remove it under the update button , but each time I try it just updates the phone number as starting from the new date ????
I am nowhere near a centrelink office

Cruising Granny · Guru

brickies wrote:
I have to agree with you Dreamcaster , Centrelink does a great job treat them right they will treat you right , They have guide line to follow if you fit the guide line they will pay

Jeez, what office do you frequent? I'll go there, because everywhere else I've had to visit this department has been a most frustrating, condescending, arrogant, infuriating experience. They have no idea of real life and judge people by their own stupid, limited experiences of life.

The Yapoon office was probably the best I've visited. I was treated with respect and dignity, and prompt attention.

I do all my Centrelink business online except lodging my profit and loss statements in relation to declaring my income.

They make life hard work. Good luck everyone with you dealings with Centrelink.

Beth54 · Guru

I also get my Centrelink mail online. So much easier, and I don't have to talk to anyone! biggrin

CG is right, it depends on what office you go into. Unfortunately, my local office for many years was one of the roughest, feral suburbs. I saw fights and abuse, and I thank goodness I don't have to go there now.

As Florinhill said, any office will sort your issues. I had to go into the office in Longreach a couple of years ago, and they were so lovely...sorted out my problem in no time.

Roving-Dutchy · Guru

I have found over the years that my dealings with Centrelink, both in their office and over the phone, have been very good,

I have found when contacting them over the phone, it cuts down the wait time, if you call early morning. It does also pay off if you do some research and understand, how they assess your Super fund pension ,etc.

I have just applied for and obtained the age pension for my wife Sue and this process took a month and the main delay was the time it took to get up to date figures from the accountant re Super. We even received a phone call from Centrelink, querying our delay in getting the figures to them.

We did get excellent advice from the Centrelink financial advisor, as how to adjust our Super pension to obtain the maximum benefit from Centrelink, so all in all very satisfied in all our dealings with Centrelink, our main point of contact has been the Lakehaven office, Central Coast NSW.

Cheers

David

brickies · Guru

David I agree I have had nothing but great service from centrelink , Maybe some of our member need to think why is it our claim are being held up are they taking the process to lightly not providing all the information required , remember they are paying out big money and they need to get it right . If it took 2 days sitting at a centrelink office to get a pension I would do it has it help to give me a good life .

sandsmere · Guru

We've always found the centrelink people easy to deal with too .

Don't phone them though . Go into an office and talk to them .

Mail by email is the way to go .