The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

7.2.9 Recovery from financial institutions

Summary

This section provides information on recovering amounts of FA that are made to a financial institution for the credit of an account kept with the institution.

Intended individual not an account holder with the institution

If FA payments were made to a financial institution for the credit of an account kept with the institution and the payments were intended for someone other than the person in whose name the account was kept, Centrelink may give a written notice to the institution requiring it to pay back the lesser of the following amounts:

  • the amount of the FA payments
  • the amount standing to the credit of the account when the notice is given to the institution.

The financial institution would be required to repay the money within a reasonable period and this period would be specified in the notice.

Where an account with an institution is in the names of more than one individual, this provision applies if the payment was intended for someone who was not one of the individuals in whose names the account was kept.

Death of the intended individual

If FA payments are made to a financial institution for the credit of an account that was kept with the institution and the intended individual to receive payments died before the payments were made, Centrelink may give a written notice to the institution requiring it to pay back the lesser of the following amounts:

  • the amount of the FA payments
  • the amount standing to the credit of the account when the notice is received by the institution.

The financial institution would be required to repay the money within a reasonable period and this period would be specified in the notice.

Act reference: FA(Admin)Act section 93A Recovery of amounts from financial institutions

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