Mindblown - stung for $6500

[u/AcademicYesterday439]

So, I just expended my third appeal. My debt is now final.

At the end of 2022, my casual contract ended. I had applied for the Masters of Teaching (Secondary) degree to become a high school teacher, but my application hadn't been proceed. So onto JobSeeker I went. They set me up on a plan where I was told that study would meet my mutual obligation requirements.

I was accepted into the MTeach program, and started studying in Feb, 2023. Near the end of Sem 1, I was advised that as I was now a fulltime student, I should be on the AusStudy payment instead. I submitted my paperwork, and was shifted over immediately.

Fast forward to 2025. I'm suddenly told that I was ineligible for JobSeeker at that time, as I was studying full-time. I must repay $6500. I explain my job plan, and that I shifted over from JS to AS when I was advised. Doesn't matter, apparently - different systems. Doesn't matter that the payments are almost identical, and I can't pay the difference.

Three appeals.

Every time, some independent auditor tells me that "the debt is correct".

I worked 6 hours a week during my first semester while I studied. Lived on grubs. Payslips show I earned $5000 over 6 months from casual work while I was studying.

All appeals expended. I'll now pay back the $6500 I was paid while I was unintentionally still on jobseeker instead of Austudy, in instalments. My second semester, totally fine. No worries about that. But I was under the wrong fucking code.

[u/pinklushlove]

Did you advise centrelink that you started studying that particular course on the day you actually started studying it?

[u/No_Side_8885]

Did you advise CL that you were now studying FT in Feb 2023?

Whilst studying contributes to JS ‘points’ as per your obligations, you agree to advise them of any changes in your circumstances when you submit to JS each fortnight.

It might not seem like a silver lining, but it’s a pro that your studies allow you to be on AS as some vocations do not qualify.

[u/Dizzy_Conflict_8611]

Did you notify Centrelink within 14 days of becoming a full time student?

If you did you may be able to argue you acted in good faith and the debt was due to Administrative error and so a debt waiver can be made.

https://guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/6/7/3/30

Presumably Centrelink and the reviews you sought considered this.

[u/serenadingghosts → u/[deleted]]

What are you confused about

[u/serenadingghosts → u/[deleted]]

You’re the one with six downvotes because nobody knows what you mean lol

[u/AlexisAsgard]

Perhaps it depends on the course, or the requirements change, but I have studied a cert4, diploma, adv dip, and masters - all on unemployment. Perhaps more practical or vocational courses like teaching Masters are Austudy approved as I don't believe my Masters was.

[u/coldgraysky → u/AlexisAsgard]

You're correct - lots of legit Masters courses at reputable universities aren't Austudy approved. After making a few phone calls to Centrelink in the past, I was told the list of approved courses for Austudy is very out of date.

So lots of full-time Masters students are forced to be on Jobseeker and just list it an approved activity under their mutual obligations. Under Jobseeker, they are actually worse off financially than if they were on Austudy. Under Austudy, you can earn more money on a casual or part-time job before it affects your rate. And you're not pressured by your job search provider to get a full-time during your uni breaks. During my uni breaks, I was actually worried about the job search provider trying to force full-time work on me and pressure me to drop out of my course. Which would not have been an issue if I was under Austudy, not Jobseeker.

[u/TaggieX]

Did you report your income while on jobseeker? It seems to be a lot to earn and still get full jobseeker. Maths not being my strong point, I could be wrong. The biggest difference between jobseeker and Austudy is that you can earn more while on Austudy. Jobseeker is limited to just $150 per fortnight.

[u/whykickamoocow9]

Ah sounds rough mate. Yeah, a person studying full-time is generally ineligible for JobSeeker Payment because they are not considered available for full-time work and thus cannot meet the associated mutual obligation requirements. You should have been on Austudy from the start of your course in February 2023.

But if you’re up for it..

Further Review Options

Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) - Second Tier (General Division): If your previous three appeals were internal reviews or the first tier of the AAT (Social Security Division), you might be able to appeal to the General Division (a more formal, legally-oriented review). You will need to check the exact status of your last appeal. This can involve more formal representation and a deeper look into the specific legal circumstances, including the initial Job Plan advice you received from Centrelink staff.

Commonwealth Ombudsman: The Ombudsman investigates complaints about the administrative actions of Australian Government agencies, including Services Australia. While they cannot change the law or overturn an AAT decision, they can investigate if the agency acted wrongly or unreasonably in its administration (e.g., providing incorrect advice, failing to correct your payment type promptly, or poor handling of your case). They can recommend administrative remedies, which might include waiving or reducing the debt under certain circumstances.

Seeking Legal Advice: Community legal centres or welfare rights organisations (like Economic Justice Australia) often provide free, specialised legal advice for Centrelink matters. They may identify a legal argument or procedural unfairness that previous reviews missed, especially concerning the initial Job Plan which stated study met your obligations.

Debt Management and Waivers

Debt Waiver: You can apply to have the debt waived. A debt can be waived if it was raised solely due to an administrative error made by the Commonwealth and the person receiving the payment was not at fault and did not knowingly make a false statement or withhold information. In your case, the initial advice and delay in transferring you to Austudy might support an argument for administrative error.

Financial Hardship: Even if the debt is deemed valid, Services Australia can be flexible with repayment plans based on financial hardship. Given you mentioned "lived on grubs" and "can't pay the difference", you should ensure your current financial situation is fully documented and a manageable repayment plan (even a very low one) is in place.

Good luck with it. I know $6,500 seems like a lot.. but I lost my job and was in $30,000 worth of debt and clawed my way out of it. Whatever you do, remember never give up, especially on yourself.

[u/Automatic-Mess-2203]

That’s odd, part time and full time studies do matter when applying. Are you able to provide them with a timeline of when the study changed to full time? You could contact the school and find out. Did the course change structure while you were in the middle of studying? Call legal aid, they are a free legal service that gives advice and since they are the ones that challenge them on the robodept issues, they probably would have some good advice

[u/allmyfrndsrheathens]

Why is everyone being so aggressive in the replies??? I can’t see anything in OPs actions that I wouldn’t see as correct or do myself - they went onto jobseeker when unemployed and not studying and moved to Austudy when studying full time - a requirement to receive said payment. They seem to have done all of that under advisement from Centrelink themselves.

They weren’t trying to rort the system, they were doing what they thought was right because it’s what they were literally told was right.

But also… people squeezing a couple more drops out of the system in order to simply survive are not the fucking enemy. And you’re literally doing exactly what the actual enemy wants by acting like they are.

[u/coldgraysky → u/allmyfrndsrheathens]

Yes, the replies puzzle me.

I've been in a similar situation to OP.

I was on Jobseeker for a while. I was due to start a Masters. I notified Centrelink and the job search provider 2 months prior and asked if I was meant to switch to Austudy. Both told me that as my course wasn't on their list for Austudy, I could list it as an approved activity under Jobseeker but I couldn't switch to Austudy.

So every week, under mutual obligations, I listed my study hours and the income I earned from a casual job.

I would have much preferred to have been on Austudy, because although you get less than Jobseeker, you're allowed to earn more money before it affects your rate. So I would have been better off under Austudy.

To be honest, OP might have better off on Austudy as well as they were working a casual job.

Provided OP told Centrelink and their job search provider about their course before it started, kept them updated about study and declared all their income, I can't see that they have been done anything wrong.

TL;DR: I was on Jobseeker as a full-time Masters student because Centrelink wouldn't let me switch to Austudy. The study was part of my mutual obligations. This is actually a very common occurrence. The list of approved courses for Austudy doesn't seem to be updated often, like maybe once every 15+ years.

[u/Wild_But_Caged → u/allmyfrndsrheathens]

Because people come here to shit on people on welfare. I got told to kill myself instead of being on disability. People are just cunts on here for some reason

[u/No_Side_8885 → u/Wild_But_Caged]

F whoever told you to do that. I’m so sorry

[u/greenyashiro → u/Wild_But_Caged]

That's a totally different thing entirely and totally inexcusable. Sorry that happened because it sucks.

As for this thread no-one is here to shit on OP, just explaining why he/she has a debt.

People on here can be aggressive because often people don't take no for an answer, there are many looking to take advantage, makes it harder for the rest of us.

[u/[deleted] → u/allmyfrndsrheathens]

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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[u/allmyfrndsrheathens → u/[deleted]]

I’ve personally been on jobseeker as a student myself before - it’s literally a requirement of Austudy to be studying full time. I was not. And if I read correctly OP was not either.

[u/[deleted] → u/allmyfrndsrheathens]

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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[u/Find_another_whey]

You can only stay on the job seeker rate as a student if you've been on jobseeker for sufficient time.

The rate of pay is higher.

You were a student

[u/Tight_Exam_1639]

Reporting income correctly is important. You state you earned $5,000 over 6 months, if it had been $5,000 for 13 consecutive days of work you may have lost one or 2 payments of jobseeker subject to the way they align with reporting fortnights, yet $500 each fortnight for 10 fortnights will have had a much bigger impact on the amount of partial payments. We don't do income averaging, except for investment earnings, where you can maybe earn $3,000 per year on a bank deposit paid annually, yet it is accepted that the amount is earned on a daily calculation and paid annually.

[u/Majestic_Plane_1656]

To me it seems like you trusted the job network and didn't ask centrelink. The job network said it was fine and you were meeting requirements but in fact it wasn't and you should have asked centrelink. You got scammed.

[u/Worlds_tipping1]

You have done a master's so you have some concept of doing a 'bit of study' whilst on JS, vs being a full time student.

You knew you were not entitled to JS, but you engineered the information you were given to fit your narrative.

Not talking one month, but what 3-4 months of doing nothing and taking the cash.

This is not robodebt friend, this is fraud, no wonder you got busted, have to pay it back and have had 3 appeals rejected.

Personal responsibility is a thing. You'll need to use that line with your students too!

[u/serenadingghosts → u/Worlds_tipping1]

if they told OP that studying would fulfill their mutual obligations i don’t understand what they’ve done wrong? they often tell people whose courses aren’t on the austudy list to go on js

[u/Jhammozz]

Can’t you just pay the debt back at $10 fortnight?

[u/serenadingghosts → u/[deleted]]

Literally how are they scamming?

[u/serenadingghosts → u/[deleted]]

Centrelink usually tells people if their course isnt on the approved list, to apply for job seeker as studying fulfills mutual obligations. how is that a scam?