'I'm not a cheat': Recently widowed pensioner, 79, slams Centrelink for wrongly billing him $67 they claimed he was overpaid 21 YEARS ago
- A NSW pensioner was asked by Centrelink to repay a 21-year-old debt
- Norm Austwick, 79, received the a letter asking him to pay $67.55 from 1998
- He said after hours on the phone Centrelink said he did not owe the money
- Organisations have called for a review into Centrelink's debt recovery practices
A furious pensioner received a bill from Centrelink for $67.55 the organisation claimed he has owed since 1998.
Norm Austwick, from Mogareeka, on the New South Wales far south coast says he was shocked when he opened the letter that stated he was overpaid 21 years ago.
After hours on the phone with Centrelink, the 79-year-old said the Department of Human Services eventually conceded the letter was an error and should not have been sent.
A furious pensioner received a bill from Centrelink for $67.55 they say he'd owed since 1998 (file image)
'I was very angry because my family thinks I'm obsessive about informing Centrelink of any changes and I believe it would be impossible for me to have a debt,' Mr Austwick told the ABC.
'When you get a letter like that all you do is think about it and think about how unjust it is... I am not a rogue, not a cheat, and I hate being cheated.'
Mr Austwick said Centrelink should explain how it arrives at debts when sending out letters rather than just stating the amount they claim is owed.
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The Australian Council of Social Service is calling for reforms to the government's debt recovery system.
Senior Policy Officer Charmaine Crowe said the organisation was concerned thousands of Australian were paying debts they did not owe or a higher amount than what they owed.
Ms Crowe said it would be unheard of for the private sector to send out an unexplained bill and then the recipient would need to prove they don't owe it.
Department of Human Services General Manager Hank Jongen told the broadcaster the letter was issued as as part of the aged pension income stream review process.
'We sincerely apologise to Mr Austwick for the confusion caused,' Mr Jongen said.
The Australian Council of Social Service is calling for reforms to the government's debt recovery system (stock image)
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