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The Latest Breaking News from Department of Social Services

Labor drops plan to reduce access to disability pension for drug and alcohol-related conditions

Albanese government backs away from controversial change as part of once-in-a-decade review of disability pension eligibility criteria

The Guardian - AU

Conspiracy or stuff up? Robodebt royal commission probes how far up the chain of command blame falls

The first two weeks of hearings into the unlawful welfare scheme sought to answer a central question: how could this happen?

The Guardian - AU

South Dakota voters approved Medicaid expansion, but implementation may not be easy

RAPID CITY, S.D. — South Dakotans voted Tuesday to expand the state’s Medicaid program to cover thousands of additional low-income residents, becoming the seventh state to approve expansion via the ballot box.

Tribune News Service

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Finn Pratt confirmed Robodebt's lawfulness despite not taking legal advice, commission hears

The former Department of Social Services secretary signed a letter to the Commonwealth Ombudsman in 2017 saying the scheme was legal, despite not seeing any legal or policy advice or knowing how it worked, a royal commission hears.

ABC News

‘Watered down’ legal concerns included in robodebt briefing for Scott Morrison, inquiry hears

Earlier document warned proposed debt recovery measures would have ‘fundamental impacts on social security policy and legislation’, royal commission told

The Guardian - AU

‘Unethical’: robodebt inquiry hears advisers were ‘almost immediately’ concerned by the initial plan

Former director of debt management compared proposal to so-called Dallas Buyers Club ‘speculative invoicing’ saga

The Guardian - AU

Legal advice on robodebt not passed on

The royal commission has heard a government department failed to relay information about the unlawfulness of the robodebt income averaging calculation.

AAP

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Robodebt went ahead, despite legal doubts, after earning Scott Morrison’s backing, inquiry hears

The then social services minister wanted Centrelink debt recovery proposal worked up for 2015 budget process, royal commission told

The Guardian - AU

This Melbourne Cup, alcohol and sport collide. We need to watch out for domestic violence

Not everyone looks forward to the Melbourne Cup. Domestic violence and emergency services ready themselves for a potential increase in calls, call-outs and admissions.

The Conversation

Legal doubts over robodebt raised with government department in 2014, inquiry hears

First day of royal commission hearings told social services department did not seek ‘authoritative’ legal advice until four years after scheme was introduced

The Guardian - AU

Robodebt: key public officials and debt collectors to appear as royal commission kicks off

Inquiry into botched Centrelink debt recovery scheme starts its first round of hearings on Monday

The Guardian - AU

Missouri AG files new petition to shut down Agape Boarding School, asks for judge change

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri attorney general and the state’s child welfare office have filed yet another petition to immediately shut down Agape Boarding School — only this time, they want another judge.

Tribune News Service

Cashless debit card users voice anger, apprehension about its looming end

As the Commonwealth moves to scrap the cashless debit card, there is apprehension in remote northern Australia about life without the controversial form of income management.

ABC News

Almost half of jobseeker recipients unable to work full-time due to sickness or disability

Latest Department of Social Services figures highlight the difficulties facing those who do not qualify for disability support – despite health problems

The Guardian - AU

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Crikey

Lockdowns, NDIS make perfect speech storm

Children and adults needing speech therapy are waiting months to see a speech pathologist because of a perfect storm of COVID-19 and NDIS funding.

Los Angeles Times

2 boys allegedly killed by adoptive parents were illegally taken from mother, suit alleges

The biological family of two boys who authorities say were killed by their adoptive parents have filed a federal lawsuit alleging civil rights violations and wrongful death.

Crikey

Auditor queries welfare card effectiveness

The cashless welfare card, aimed at reducing social harm, has failed to show it is meeting its aims with key recommendations for improvements ignored.

AAP

A-G queries welfare card effectiveness

The cashless welfare card, aimed at reducing social harm, has failed to show it is meeting its aims with key recommendations for improvements ignored.

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The Guardian - AU

Morrison government failed to show cashless debit card scheme works, auditor general says

Scathing report finds Department of Social Services has not demonstrated the program is meeting objectives

The Conversation

How can more people be on unemployment benefits than before COVID, with fewer unemployed Australians? Here's how

So low is Australia’s unemployment rate, the official count says there are now just 580,300 people unemployed – the least since 2009, when Australia’s population was one-sixth smaller than it is today. Compared to just before the start of the pandemic, 184,800 fewer Australians are now unemployed.

ABC News

Labor says the Coalition has a plan to expand the cashless debit card to age pensioners. Is there any evidence?

From humble beginnings, a campaign driven by Labor MPs has grown, implying the Coalition has a plan to expand the cashless debit card to age pensioners. Is there any evidence, or is it a scare campaign?

Pedestrian.tv

An Alleged Job Agent Appears To Tell A JobSeeker It’s His ‘Own Fault’ He’s Unemployed In Video

The Department of Social Services is investigating the "alleged conduct" by an alleged job agent towards a JobSeeker in the video.

The Guardian - AU

Public servants accused in Senate estimates of misleading parliament over $1.7m contract for welfare research

Guardian Australia sought the research from the Department of Social Services under FOI laws but it mostly remains secret

Tribune News Service

Faxes and snail mail: Will pandemic-era flaws unleash improved health technology

Jamie Taylor received two letters from the Missouri Department of Social Services Family Support Division that began, “Good news,” before stating that she was denied Medicaid coverage. Her income exceeded the state’s limits for the federal-state public health insurance program for people with low incomes.

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