Social Security
|
7th September, 2013 Regular changes to social security arrangements left pensioners and other beneficiaries confused and unsure of their entitlements. Nonetheless the number of people receiving benefits, particularly disability pensions continues to grow. $35 of $100 of taxes collected goes to social security. |
|
19th April, 2012 Only 1.7% of calls to the Government's welfare fraud tip-off line were investigated with a view to prosecution in 2010-11 (1840 out of 108,010 calls made). In the balance of 2011, only 1.2% of calls were investigated, 604 out of 48368 (Senate Estimates - The Australian) |
|
17th February, 2012 Government spends $282,000 advertising Basic Card Information Services for Merchants and then abandons the event as only total of 40 people attend the five seminars held |
|
30th July, 2011 Gillard Government announces major changes to eligibility for the disability pension which is expected to disqualify 4 out of every 10 people who would currently receive the benefit. All existing recipients are to be grandfathered |
|
10th May, 2011 BUDGET 2011-12 From 1-7-12 all Disability Support Pension recipients under 35 with a capacity to work 8 hours or more per week will be required to attend Centrelink interviews and to create a community interaction employment plan From 1-7-12 Disability Support Pension recipients will be allowed to continue to receive payments while living overseas Disability Support Pension recipients will be able to retain eligibility for the Pension for up to two years when working up to 30 hours per week Changes to Youth and Newstart Allowance for those aged between 20 and 22 and higher income allowed for some Youth Allowance recipients National Rental Affordability Scheme cut by $345 million |
|
24th June, 2010 Kevin Rudd deposed as Prime Minister and replaced by Ms Julia Gillard |
|
1st June, 2010 Half of Australia's mothers will miss out on Labor's paid parental leave scheme |
|
11th May, 2010 BUDGET People applying for a Disability Pension will be required to apply for unemployment benefits Centrelink staff numbers slashed by 1880 increasing delays in Centrelink queries |
|
5th April, 2010 The number of people who have had their dole payments suspended for failing to meet the work test has been reduced from 32,000 to 19,000 under Labor's new soft approach to welfare cheats |
|
21st October, 2009 Rudd Government admits it sent letters to 20000 Australians with severe or profound disabilities promising them increases between $20.20 and $65.00 per fortnight when in fact they will receive zero. |
|
12th May, 2009 BUDGET Australians will need to work longer to pay off Labor's debt, with the age pension age being increased to 67 |
|
14th May, 2008 Pensioners say they had "been really let down" by the Budget "as there was nothing in there for pensioners and it really is a struggle" |
|
13th May, 2008 BUDGET Labor changes the income test for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card stripping benefits from 22,000 retirees |
|
23rd February, 2008 Labor tells Centrelink to slash 2000 jobs from across Australia |
|
7th February, 2008 Labor threatens to abolish the bonus of $1,000 for those receiving the carer's payment and $600 for those on carer's allowance Labor threatens to axe the $500 bonus for Age Pensioners and Seniors |
|
6th February, 2008 Labor terminates the $5.1 million Centrelink call centre expansion in Launceston, Coffs Harbour |
