The Meeting Place > Government & Centrelink > Rent allowance for single Age Pensioner

Rent allowance for single Age Pensioner

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rebelwithacause
6 yrs ago

I've just been told by Centrelink that I haven't given them a Rent Certificate since 2007 as I phoned to query why I wasn't getting the same Rent Assistance as my neighbour as our income etc., all matches except I was getting much less Rent Allowance than she was. Surely they should have advised me when I should have given them a Rent Certificate every year or 6 months as I thought the mob I was with, deductng my rent & advising Centre link of our 6 monthly rent increases would advise us in our Village if this needed to be done. I checked with others who have been here longer than me (I've been here 10 years) and NONE of them had been told to lodge Rent Certificates. Centrelink also said they won't back pay me. Now I don't know who is at fault here and I have to get a new Rent Certificate (which they have posted to me) & I should receive it by Tuesdy then I have to take it to my Landlord to sign and then go to Centrelink and hand it in. Someone's at fault here and it's not me. Can someone please advise me as I've had a clean out of paper work so can't back check 10 years. Many thanks and look forward to a reply.

3 comments

Rabelwithacause ... there's some info on this page which may help.

https://www.dss.gov.au/housing-support/programmes-services/commonwealth-rent-assistance

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rebelwithacause
6 yrs ago

Thanks for your reply. Much appreciated.

I'll go and read it now. I had trouble finding my original message. LOL.

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catsahoy
6 yrs ago

Rebalwitha cause,      i cant help you with that,     as i have NEVER given centerlink a rent statement,     is this through a housing co op,  ?        if they notify you when you get a rise,     and when anything else changes,   i would have thought it was there place o notify you,     YOU can appeal any decisions that centerlink make,    and go before a tribunal who will hear your case,       thats about as much as i know,    but good luck,   

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rebelwithacause
6 yrs ago

Thanks for your reply, catsahoy. Much appreciated. I am renting in a retirement village run by RALAC. 
Yes, I would have thought that I would have been notified years ago re the Rent Certificate. I don't know how this works but was told by Centrelink that I have to inform them every six months when we get our measly pittance of 4 or 5 Dollars increase, they then deduct 25% of that pittance towards a rent increase. RALAC sends out a Rent Increase certificate to us every 6 months. So naturally Centrelink is advised when this happens so I don't know who is at fault here. Anyway, I ran around yesterday - 4 taxis later and finally got it signed and handed back to Centrelink. It wasn't in the post either I had to go to Centrelink, stand in a queue and request a Certificate then jump in and out of taxis to get it back to CL. I don't want to have to go through this again. Another big expense paying for taxis. I might have to take this to the Ombudsman.
Have a lovely day. 

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