'N While I'm There, I'll just nip Out and Buy A Property

[bushies.girl]

Well why not? lol

[chameleon54]

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@bushies.girl wrote:

If you own your own home and dont live a extravagant lifestye, while the pension isnt a fortune, its is def enough to live on ..... I know quite a few people in this situation, all of whom see to manage quite well, run a car, go on hols. etc etc

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The people you know must surely have some other savings or assets besides their home ???

My wife's granny lost her hubby at a young age. She raised 5 kids including sending four of them to uni on the pittance she earned from a few house cleaning jobs. She owns a tiny little run down cottage in a small country town worth around $80,000 ( yes they are still available for that in remote rural towns ) and that's it. Nothing else but a few old pieces of furniture and op shop clothes. She is a depression era child and is very frugal. No pockies, no alcohol, no car, no expensive holidays, not even modest weekend trip away on a bus.

She lives off of the single pension and really struggles. If the fridge breaks down, her kids chip in to buy her a new one. The family help with repairs and maintenance around the house as she cant afford to pay tradesmen. The pension may be OK if you have a few savings or other asset's you can draw on, but for those truly poor with nothing else..... IT SIMPLY IS NOT ENOUGH. !!!!

[davidc4430]

what you describe is exactly why the govt must treat everyone individually and not just use blanket rules covering everyone on benifits.

every one has their own set of cercumstances.

even the people working in centerlink offices are all different. one day you get someone who bends over backwards to understand you and do everything they can to fix your problem.

next time you get someone who couldnt give a rats, your just a number to be dealt with as fast as possible.

[bushies.girl]

Some people obviously live better than others on the pension, not going to debate it back it forth with you   ......bty you dont need to ive in a remote , rural town to buy a cheap house lol

[davidc4430]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-10/sussan-ley-tried-to-buy-gold-coast-home-before-apartment/81724...

another day another nail in her coffin.

i think she will be diagnosed with bishops disease, the inability to tell the truth re parlimentary perks claims.

[freshwater-2]

The  Federal Government  is 'looking at' negative gearing on investment properties.

Maybe the Minister already knows the outcome and can still capitalise on the current rules.

This aside....I fail to see the difference between welfare cheats and politicians rorting the system.

They both steal from the taxpayer.

[davidc4430]

one difference a lot of so called welfare cheats dont do it intentionally, are told they must return the money imediately and get kicked off the benifit. making them even worse off.

pollies get to pay the money back more easily as they are 'cashed up' and dont usually lose their jobs, just get put on the back bench where they can still access the perks.

btw, 'looking at negative gearing' is not actually making any changes.

[domino-710]

Begs the question though ;

Everyone knows what they receive per fortnight or whatever - surely if overpaid - pay it back immediately.

Not a good idea to spend it - get caught - then have to pay back.

[lyndal1838]

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@domino-710 wrote:

Begs the question though ;

Everyone knows what they receive per fortnight or whatever - surely if overpaid - pay it back immediately.

Not a good idea to spend it - get caught - then have to pay back.

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It is not necessarily as simple as that.

Have you read about the recent debarcle with Centrelink payments?

And you can't just "pay it back" if you know Centrelink has made a mistake in your payment.   You have to notify them and let them "investigate".  These investigations can take weeks during which time your debt is increasing all the time.  They have to be the ones to tell you there has been a mistake and make you feel like a criminal for their mistake.

[domino-710]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

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@domino-710 wrote:

Begs the question though ;

Everyone knows what they receive per fortnight or whatever - surely if overpaid - pay it back immediately.

Not a good idea to spend it - get caught - then have to pay back.

---

It is not necessarily as simple as that.

Have you read about the recent debarcle with Centrelink payments?

And you can't just "pay it back" if you know Centrelink has made a mistake in your payment.   You have to notify them and let them "investigate".  These investigations can take weeks during which time your debt is increasing all the time.  They have to be the ones to tell you there has been a mistake and make you feel like a criminal for their mistake.

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I humbly beg to differ.

I was caught in these circumstances.

Noticed the overpayment - went to the bank - got a Bank Cheque - made out to Centrelink - then insisted they take it.

They had no other choice - no way was my so called ' debt ' going to increase.

Please keep in mind - those that are employed by Centrelink - are your employees.

And they do take complaints very seriously - as they have to.

[bushies.girl]

I dont see the difference either, stealing is stealing   ..... However, there are times, when a computer error has occur and a  person has received an over payment.  This error has been entirely out of their control and as long as they have contacted Centerlink and notified  them of their error, then to me,  no crime has occurred.  In Ley's case the circumstances are a little different, in that, she used taxpayer funds which imo she knew she wasnt entitled to use.