Up to 100,000 Centrelink debts or potential debts miscalculated over two decades, ombudsman finds

The incorrect calculation of up to 100,000 debts or potential welfare debts was based on a ‘genuinely’ held belief the method was accurate, the ombudsman said. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

Up to 100,000 debts or potential debts were incorrectly calculated over two decades by “unlawfully apportioning” welfare recipients’ income, the commonwealth ombudsman has found.

On Wednesday the ombudsman released a report finding that from at least 2003 to December 2020 the department of social services and Services Australia miscalculated debts due to an “incorrect” understanding of social security law.