If you don't tell us, we may pay you too much. This means you may get a debt and you'll need to pay us back. It's important to tell us if you change your legal name.
If you don't tell us, it may affect your payment. You may need to pay back money we've paid you. If you're dishonest in order to get a payment, you're committing welfare fraud. Read more about how to avoid committing fraud.
Deliberately receiving an allowance, pension or other benefit that you know you are not entitled to, is a criminal offence. You can be charged with a criminal offence, even if you pay the money back. Being charged with Centrelink offences can result in a fine or even imprisonment.
If you have defrauded Centrelink, you may be charged under section 134.2 – obtaining a financial advantage by deception. If you are found guilty, the maximum penalty is 10 years imprisonment. You may instead, or also, receive a fine between $10,000 and $100,000 and be made to repay the benefit to Centrelink.
You may be asked to attend an interview
If these investigations show that what you have told Centrelink about your income or family situation do not match up with your bank account details, your tax returns or other information, they may ask you to attend a Centrelink office for a voluntary interview.
It's until when they decide to interview that you get to know you're being investigated. This interview is documented and used against you in Court. If not invited for an interview, you get to know you've been investigated when the CDPP issues a charge of Obtaining a Financial Advantage for you.
If you lie to Centrelink about your circumstances, you may receive benefits that you would otherwise not be entitled to. Courts view Centrelink fraud very seriously and if found guilty you could face a sentence of imprisonment and will be required to repay the debt to Centrelink.
If you forget to report the income documented on a 1099 form, the IRS will catch this error. When the IRS thinks that you owe additional tax on your unreported 1099 income, it'll usually notify you and retroactively charge you penalties and interest beginning on the first day they think that you owed additional tax.
You repay or start repaying the money by the due date
If you get a Centrelink payment, we'll deduct money from your payment. You don't need to do anything, but you can change how much we deduct. If you no longer get a Centrelink payment, you should either: repay the money in full.
Super funds have reporting and administrative obligations in a number of areas, including for lost members, member contributions, unclaimed super and transfer balance cap. Your fund must lodge a fund income tax return each year.
Centrelink will investigate if they suspect you have received unentitled payments. Once Centrelink decide to investigate, Centrelink can require your bank or employer to disclose your financial details relevant to Centrelink purposes. This process can take week to months.
You can request a Statement of Debt for any 5 year period going back to 1998. You can make more than one request.
You may have your payment suspended and get a demerit if you don't meet your mutual obligation or participation requirements. Before your payment can start again, you'll need to either: talk to your provider. call the Digital Services Contact Centre if you're with Workforce Australia Online.
Many people believe Centrelink has access to your bank account and will take it into consideration for your payment rate. This isn't true. Centrelink can't access your bank accounts to determine up to date figures. They're basing your assessment on the last amount you gave them.
The Work Bonus income bank is useful for pensioners who wish to work, particularly those who undertake intermittent or occasional work. Note: from 1 December 2022 to 31 December 2023, a one-off, temporary credit of $4,000 applies to Work Bonus income bank balances.
When you are released from prison you will receive a crisis payment. This is a one-off payment of approximately $280.
You can pay using BPAY by phone or internet banking. Our biller code is 21915 and your BPAY reference number is on the letter we sent you. You may be able to make a BPAY payment from your credit card. However, your bank may charge you extra fees or interest.
Centrelink has very wide powers to thoroughly investigate deposits that have been made into your account. For example, it has the power to obtain your information from other government agencies as well as accessing information from banks, building societies and credit union accounts.
Your Centrelink debts won't affect your credit rating.
Cash includes coins and currency of the United States or any foreign country. For some transactionsPDF, it's also a cashier's check, bank draft, traveler's check or money order with a face amount of $10,000 or less. A person must report cash of more than $10,000 they received: In one lump sum.
Nontaxable income won't be taxed, whether or not you enter it on your tax return. The following items are deemed nontaxable by the IRS: Inheritances, gifts and bequests. Cash rebates on items you purchase from a retailer, manufacturer or dealer.
You must tell us within 14 days of any income you have been paid. We will use this information to calculate your correct rate of payment. 1 You must declare all gross employment income paid in the last 14 days up to and including your reporting day. 2 You must declare your gross employment income.
It's important to tell us if your circumstances change if you get a payment, plan to claim a payment, or owe us money. You need to tell us if any of your or your partner's personal circumstances change. These changes could affect your payments. If you don't tell us, we may pay you too much.
Your income support pension or payment will be suspended or forfeited while you are imprisoned unless it is redirected to an eligible person.
Centrelink can investigate your relationship status by conducting interviews or contacting various institutions. Centrelink may ask you or your partner to attend an interview to investigate your relationship status.