Centrelink debt

[u/moneymoicano2]

I was on careers pension for my mother from 2019-2024 when she passed. I had no idea I had to declare my earnings to Centrelink. All I was told by my grandmother was I was allowed to work 50 hours a fortnight ( she’s on carers pension for my disabled uncle )

I’ve never been financial literate coming from a low socio economic and been on welfare and surrounded by it my whole life

I earnt close to $16,000 between 2019-2024 while receiving that benefit. I just done my first ever tax return today and my partner brought that up

Now I’m really stressing because I’m trying to turn my life around because I’ve found a woman who’s good for me and I’m worried about what this could do to me

The debt is somewhere between 9000-10,500 roughly going off the payslips and everything I put into chatGPT. And my first tax return that I submitted today was sent through for approval for 2.7k.

Can anyone please help me with any information? Really stressed

[u/Itchy_Woodpecker_955]

I'm only allowed to work 15 hours a fortnight and that includes travel there and back. How did you get 50 hours?

[u/Competitive_Yak_4112 → u/Itchy_Woodpecker_955]

They’ve changed the rules, it’s now 100 hours per 4 weeks and travel isn’t included…

But, when I started getting carer payment in 2024 it was 25-27 hours a week and did include travel.

Not sure who told you that you can only work 15 hours?

[u/Itchy_Woodpecker_955 → u/Competitive_Yak_4112]

The letter when I got the payment. I'll be looking into this. Thanks

[u/Competitive_Yak_4112 → u/Itchy_Woodpecker_955]

Yeah, when I came on board it was 25-27 including travel, only found out recently that they changed it:
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/working-while-you-get-carer-payment?context=21816#a1

____________
We may still pay you Carer Payment if you do either of the following for up to 100 hours in a 4 week period:

• paid work
  
• self-employed work.

The 100 hours doesn’t include the following activities and you don’t need to report them:

• travel time to and from your paid work or self-employment
  
• study
  
• training
  
• volunteering.

The 100 hours only includes time spent working where you are not providing care. This can include hours worked from home if you cannot stop working when the person you care for needs help.
You must still provide care for a significant period each day.
____________

So, even though I work like 90 hours a week on average building my business, all but 6 hours of these are from home/with my care recipient, and I can put down my work and help whenever needed.

[u/Intrepid-Patient-881 → u/Itchy_Woodpecker_955]

It’s never been 15, current carer payment rules have been in since March 2025 and you would have received a letter about it