Grrr at my friend!!

[e_p]

I just remember MIL and FIL saying that back in the day C'Link used to send people around to check up on 'house mates' of the opposite sex to make sure there were indeed separate beds and clothes were stored separately etc lol... not sure if it's true or if that would be legal in this day and age but I certainly haven't ever had anybody ask questions of me that I hadn't opened myself up for (by walking into C'Link and making a claim or contacting them personally to change/update details etc)

Fraud investigation still do that at times, although its usually not necessary - most people are caught out through data matching with banks, super annuation funds, insurance policies etc...I have a friend that recently transferred to the fraud investigation squad and has been told that she may be required to partake in unannounced inspections of people's homes.

[visitor11]

I would have distanced myself from the relationship also.

Hope it all works out okay xo

[deletedit]

I think the question really needs to be "What is it about the current system that makes people want to commit fraud?"

With payments ranging from barely $300 with savage earning restrictions to over $600 with room to move and extra topups and not a lot you have to do with your situation (ie, lie) to get the higher ones, its not hard to answer that question.

If I lied to Centrelink about myself and partner's situation Centrelink would pay us around $20,000 a year more. That's not small change.

IMHO they should make all their pensions and allowances much closer to each other (raise some, lower others), and raise the earning threshold up from $60 ($60 a fortnight before tax and expenses is NOTHING and a bit mean to cut you down just for that) to the same as PPS and DSP across the board and suddenly there would be far less work for the fraud investigation mob.