Owing money to Centrelink or the Family Assistance OfficeIf you owe money to Centrelink or the Family Assistance Office, you will be sent an 'Account Payable' or a letter telling you why you owe the money, the amount owed, when the amount is due to be paid and how you can make the payment. Centrelink manages the recovery of amounts owed to the Family Assistance Office.
What if I cannot pay the amount in full by the due date?If you are unable to pay the amount owing by the due date, please contact us on 13 6330 as soon as possible. We can help you with advice on payment options. [ return to top ] Will this affect my payments from Centrelink or the Family Assistance Office?If the amount owing is not paid by the due date, your payments from Centrelink or the Family Assistance Office may be reduced to help repay this amount. You may not be able to get advance payments until the amount owing is fully repaid. [ return to top ] Who can I contact to discuss deductions being made from my Centrelink or Family Assistance Office payment?If you have any questions about your Centrelink or Family Assistance Office payment being reduced to help repay the amount owing, or you would like to discuss the amount being deducted, please contact us on 13 6330. [ return to top ] How can I make payments?
[ return to top ] What if I do not pay the amount I owe?If you do not repay the amount owing and Centrelink has not agreed to extend the time for payment, other action may be taken including:
[ return to top ] Why has an external collection agency contacted me?Dun & Bradstreet and Recoveries Corporation are collection agencies contracted to follow up unpaid Centrelink accounts. If you get a letter from either Dun & Bradstreet or Recoveries Corporation, it is important you contact them immediately to discuss your payment options. They may also contact you by telephone. The privacy and security of your personal information is protected while your account is with Dun & Bradstreet or Recoveries Corporation and your credit rating will not be affected. [ return to top ] Are there any other overpayments that can be recovered from my payments from Centrelink or the Family Assistance Office?Deductions may be made to recover money owed to some Australian Government departments, including the Child Support Agency and the Department of Veterans Affairs. We also recover some overpayments on behalf of the New Zealand Department of Work and Income. We will let you know if we are going to recover any of these overpayments from your payments from Centrelink or the Family Assistance Office. [ return to top ] What are my rights?For information about the privacy of your personal information and the range of review and appeal processes available, go to Your Rights. [ return to top ] How do I avoid getting a debt?For information about how to avoid getting an overpayment, by telling us when things change and by making sure that you get paid the right amount, go to How do I avoid getting a debt?. [ return to top ] Useful Website Links
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