[LINK] Centrelink computers to keep tabs on the dead and flying

[Adam Todd]

At 12:53 PM 9/05/2007, Richard Chirgwin wrote:
A "real-time" link between Centrelink and the Department of 
Immigration and Citizenship will be established to keep a check on 
changes in residence status and in departures from and returns to 
Australia to ensure people are still eligible for payments.

>>"Approximately 700,000 Centrelink customers travel overseas each 
>>year, and of these, 500,000 do not notify the agency of their 
>>departure," Senator Ellison said.
>...and once again we see the chronic misuse of statistics in a form 
>designed to press a political point, regardless of fact...
>
>- Being a Centrelink "customer" does not disqualify an individual 
>from travelling overseas. For eg, a claimant of childcare rebates counts.

No, it doesn't disqualify you from going over seas.  But your 
payments stop the moment you leave the country.

>- Travel overseas has no necessary impact on an individual's 
>Centrelink status.



>- I'm not aware of any blanket rule which says "if you are 
>registered for any Centrelink payment and you go on any kind of 
>overseas trip, you must notify Centrelink.

YOU MUST TELL US IF ANY OF THESE THINGS BELLOW HAPPENED IN THE PERIOD X to Y
.
.
RESIDENCY STATUS
- You/your partner intend to go or have been outside of Australia 
(even for a short period)

I'd say that is a pretty good blanket rule.

Here are the links from the Centrelin Web site:

<http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/ea3b9a1335df87bcca2569890008040e/ee1347b92e28fd5eca2572a6001d4c1e%21OpenDocument>Are 
you leaving Australia Factsheet
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/ea3b9a1335df87bcca2569890008040e/ee1347b92e28fd5eca2572a6001d4c1e!OpenDocument

<http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/ea3b9a1335df87bcca2569890008040e/71af062f98d82771ca2572b2001831bf%21OpenDocument>Are 
you going overseas?
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/ea3b9a1335df87bcca2569890008040e/71af062f98d82771ca2572b2001831bf!OpenDocument






>The statistics are bogus.
>
>RC
>>
>> From July 2008, the residence and visa status of new welfare 
>> claimants will be checked before government payments are granted 
>> and records will be automatically updated when welfare recipients travel.
>>
>>In another fraud detection measure, Centrelink customers will also 
>>be encouraged to provide proof of their earnings once they receive 
>>them. This measure is intended to prevent a projected 74,000 people 
>>from under-declaring income and incurring a social security debt.
>>
>>As well, from March 2008, whenever a jobseeker on welfare is placed 
>>into a job by the Job Network or Disability Employment Network, the 
>>information will be automatically included in Centrelink's system.
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