Paid Parental Leave Rant

**FrogsnSnails** · 07-12-2011 00:07

I would just like to find out if anyone else has been messed around by Centrelink with regards to Paid Parental Leave. I filled in the form after bubs was born, he is now 3.5 months old and I still haven't received a cent. I have been liasing with Centrelink for months now, constantly being told incorrect information ie: they will get in touch with my employer (initially I elected for the pay to come from the FAO so that my employer did not have to be bothered with it, however they decided to change this to not make it an option). Two weeks ago I went into Medicare as I was sick of constantly being put on hold or getting the engaged signal everytime I phoned Centrelink. I spoke to a lady from Centrelink who told me that they had 'done everything their end, and were waiting for my employer to confirm that I work for them'. I was so angry I nearly flipped out right there in the Medicare office with my screaming newborn and bored toddler nagging at me. So I spoke to my employer after being told that someone would contact her THAT DAY and of course they didn't, and she said she knew nothing about it and she had filled in everything they had asked of her online. In the end it turned out to be a 'manual glitch' in their system meaning my employer had to simply sign a form THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED WEEKS AGO! I am still waiting to receive my pay!

Why is it so easy for 'some people' to recieve benefits so easily, and for me, someone who has worked since I was 14 and never claimed anything I have to jump through hoops? The system is ridiculous. Apologies for my rant but I feel a bit better now

**mummykitty** · 07-12-2011 01:34

glad you feel better now

AM · 07-12-2011 05:28

There is nothing like a faceless beauracracy to raise the blood pressure! I hear ya!!

Hope they pull finger and get it sorted soon.

**WaitingToPop** · 07-12-2011 05:29

I had almost the exact same thing happen. It was held up by my employer, but they had not been supplied all the info by centrelink. I was finally paid at 15 weeks after my DD birth. Which then meant a lot of it went to tax because of being paid in a lump sum for the back pay. Lucky we didn't need the money to get by

it was my first dealings with centrelink , and they certainly lived up to their reputation

**happygirl1982** · 07-12-2011 06:25

Yup happened to a girl I work with and is bound to happen to me

**kw123** · 07-12-2011 06:39

It's silly that it's administered by employers anyway. The FAO should do it as its not an employer benefit! So inefficient for the FAO to pay the employer and the employer to pay the employee.

**Mopoke** · 07-12-2011 08:28

yeah i konw someone who is in that situation her LO is about 3 months old and she is still waiting. sucks esp if you dont have enough savings to last you a few months

**DesperatelySeekingSleep** · 07-12-2011 14:52

oh my gosh! dont get me started on centrelink! Not quitethe same thing but in short I called up to say I am no longer a single parent as I have moved in with my partner. sure sounds easy enough right! well they send out paperwork to fill out to see if we are entitled to any benefits etc.. and book an appointment to finalise everything a couple weeks later. I fill the paperwork out and attend the appointment only for them to tell me that "oh no you need to call us up instead, we cant do any of that here", right... long story short, my DP earns $70 a week too much to qualify for anything, yet they send me out a SINGLE PARENTING PENSION CARD with DP's name on it!!!! AND they still keep trying to make me attend apointments with a job search provider even though I already have a job and do not meet the requirements to receive any benefits!!! I call up to rectify it and get asked quite rudely why I think I dont need to attend appointments for job networks. I tell her just as politely "well I dont receive benefits to make it compulsary" And the excuse?? Oh sorry, its a glitch in the system we cant seem to fix!!! I showed the job ntwork provider proof I dont need to attend appoinments and they agreed with me and were gobsmacked. They couldnt do anythng either because centrelink need to remove me from the system and they cant/wont. All they can do is make appoinments for a months time and cancel them and reschedule a month later.

So I sincerely wish you the very best of luck in your dealings with "the system". I understand exactly how you feel.

PS. It is my understanding that they have recently undergone some changes in how everything works some time around mid september.

**FrogsnSnails** · 09-12-2011 00:20

Thank you everyone for your replies. lw1981- That must have been so frustrating for you, especially as you were doing the right thing by letting them know your change in circumstance. Clearly the 'glitches in the system' are caused by poorly trained staff. Lets hope you are right about Centrelink undergoing changes.

**Jane Citizen** · 09-12-2011 21:21

Yep! I filled out the online form asked if I needed to do anything else and was told no, only to find out I needed to fill in the hard copy form and provide a birth certificate, once filled in was told it would take two weeks to be paid, two weeks went by no money, called up again and was told 28 days, 28 days went and passed and was told another month. Called up the complaints line and the money was in my account two days later (back dated as well) maybe call the complaints line and be firm but not rude