Tips for navigating Centrelink

If you’re caring for elderly parents, dealing with Centrelink will be inevitable. Here’s how to make the process easier.

Ahuge percentage of Australians belong to the sandwich generation – taking care of elderly parents or relatives while looking after their own families. For members of this generation, trying to allocate time and resources equally is a huge challenge.

Dealing with government bodies is another challenge. But it is a reality that you’ll need to regularly work with these agencies, particularly Centrelink, as your parents age. One of the key steps in dealing with this government body is to be well prepared and organised, whether your parents need care now – or might do in the future. Here are some tips on the best way to work with Centrelink.

Organise important documents

First things first. Help your parents organise their important documents into one folder. These can include:

• Power of attorney

• Will

• Bank details

• Investment or insurance policy documents

• Details of pre-arranged funerals, if applicable

By putting all these in one place, it will make the application process easier when the time comes.

Get familiar with their financial situation

If your parents have been preparing for old age, chances are they have a financial adviser. If this is the case, ask their permission to meet with, or talk to, the adviser so you can have an idea of their investment history, financial transactions, any government entitlements they might be receiving, and other future estate plans. If your parents haven’t used a financial adviser, try and familiarise yourself as much as possible with their financial situation.

Keep Centrelink informed

Centrelink needs to be regularly updated about your elderly parents’ circumstances. Are they receiving entitlements such as the Age Pension? Has their residency changed? Are there any alterations in their investments or major withdrawals from their bank accounts? You need to inform the agency from time to time of these changes within 14 days of the variations. To save you from spending time waiting on the phone or endless trips to your local Centrelink, you can request to be granted permission to know the status of your parents’ eligibilities. You just have to fill out a form and you will have your own electronic copies of your parents’ correspondence. This way, it will be easier for you to deal with the agency on their behalf.

To save you from spending time on the phone or endless trips to Centrelink, request permission to know the status of your parents’ eligibilities