Centrelink demands couple pay back $7,000 after same-sex marriage vote
Centrelink has reportedly been targeting same sex marriage couples, with the government agency making some dubious decisions to claw back welfare payments.
News.com.au reports a woman from Tasmania was left shocked when she was ordered to hand back welfare payments to the tune of $6,600, after Centrelink retroactively recognised the overseas marriage to her wife in 2016.
In wake of the historic SSM decision Centrelink says woman wasn’t entitled to the family payments she received over the past year, but that’s where this story gets complicated.
The woman’s partner is not an Australian citizen according to news.com.au, and as the couple do not share finances they do not satisfy Centrelink requirements for de facto relationships, which was what allowed her to claim family tax benefits.
After the legislation recognising gay marriage was passed, rather than her payments simply ceasing Centrelink is looking for backdated welfare payments, even though she went through the correct process of declaring the marriage back in 2016.
Tasmanians United for Marriage Equality spokesman, Rodney Croome, slammed Centrelink for the ruling, suggesting the penalty was unfair and undeserved.
“This woman has done nothing wrong and is being penalised because of the failure of the Federal Government to recognise her marriage when it occurred,” Mr Croome told Gay Star News.
“I urge Centrelink to develop fairer policies on recognising overseas same-sex marriages so this doesn’t happen again.”
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