Just give us our $20 a week
An infuriating case just out from the Supreme Court.
In the late 1990s Kathryn Harlen was found guilty of benefit fraud. She was imprisoned briefly and in 2000 WINZ started docking $20 a week off her benefit to recover the $120,000 she stole from taxpayers. A token amount but important so people don’t get to keep the benefits of fraud.
17 years later only $4,000 has been paid back. Instead Ms Harlen has spent most of that time fighting the repayments in every forum possible, including:
- Benefits Review Committee
- Social Security Appeal Authority x 2
- High Court x 2
- Court of Appeal
- Supreme Court
Such a strong case of entitlementitis.