Perth medical students struggle with rent as Centrelink stalls on study payments

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This was published 8 years ago

Perth medical students struggle with rent as Centrelink stalls on study payments

By Emma Young
Updated

Perth medical students who applied for assistance payments months ago are struggling to make ends meet as Centrelink sits on their applications.

While most universities head back at the end of February, the academic year for Notre Dame students started a month ago - and are now feeling the pinch.

Centrelink has defended its new debt recovery processes in recent weeks.

Centrelink has defended its new debt recovery processes in recent weeks.Credit: Fairfax Media

Medical student Peter*, who stopped full-time work two days before starting full-time study, applied for Youth Allowance almost three months ago.

The 22-year-old said Centrelink messages which updated him on his application progress stopped in December.

Centrelink staff he met with last week could not give a start date.

"I waited an hour to have a 30-second conversation and just they told me it was a busy time of year," he said.

He had found it hard to find part-time work that fitted around his hectic study schedule.

"This degree is like a nine-to-five job in itself," he said.

While he was able to live off his savings for now, he felt for classmates struggling to pay rent.

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Charles*, 24, who also stopped work just before starting study, applied for Youth Allowance two months ago.

He said he ensured the staffer processing his application knew his job end-date, but this month his claim was rejected because he "earned too much", even though he had ceased working weeks beforehand.

After a two-and-a-half hours on the phone, he was told he had to reapply and wait another six weeks.

Some people at uni are from affluent backgrounds but others aren't... they're really relying on this money

Although he has found some casual work, he said it barely covered the rent and was eroding his study time.

Covering bills and food was eating into his meagre savings, which he predicted would last four more weeks.

"Some people at uni are from affluent backgrounds but others aren't," he said.

"They can't live at home, and they are really relying on this money.

"I try not to think about my financial situation in order to get through each week [but] when I look at my bank balance, I get stressed."

Adding to the pressure, Centrelink recently sent out a letter informing students that a $1000-per-semester payment, previously made available for textbooks and related equipment as a scholarship, would now be added to their student debt.

It represents an effort by the government to cut costs without ceasing the support altogether.

The Department of Human Services is looking into both Peter and Charles' situations and has apologised for the inconvenience the backlog is causing.

"Processing times vary according to seasonal demands and the Department is currently right in the middle of a peak period," a spokeswoman said.

"We acknowledge that some students are experiencing delays with their claim due to this extremely busy time of year.

"We are working as quickly as possible to process these claims.

"I would ask that customers be patient, as all claims will be processed and payments will be backdated from the date the person becomes eligible.

"To manage demand, we are prioritising claims for people experiencing financial hardship."

Anyone in this position is urged to contact the Department of Human Services so that additional support can be provided.

*Names changed to protect privacy

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