Tag: welfare
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Welfare drug tests could result in income management
The Federal Government has warned that any welfare recipients who fail drug tests will risk being forced onto a total income management scheme. The government are due to begin the mandatory testing of 5000 new Centrelink customers next year, and while it is expected that less than 10% of those subjected will test positive to…
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Cashless welfare expansion considered ahead of budget
The Federal Government is considering expansions to the trial cashless welfare system ahead of the budget next month. The trial system exists as a cashless welfare debit card, onto which 80% of the individual’s welfare payment is transferred. This card cannot be used to buy alcohol, to gamble or withdraw cash, but is determined for…
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Centrelink overpayment errors ‘not counted’
The Senate inquiry into Centrelink’s automated debt recovery system has found that the system has not kept track of how many overpayment errors were caused by the agency itself. Greens senator Rachel Siewert has called for greater clarity from the government service on the functionality and reliability of the new automated system. “I think it…