A local man was ordered to pay back $5930.77 to Centrelink in the Young local court recently after he failed to disclose income to the Department of Human Services.
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Wayne Francis Lawrence was also given a two-month good behaviour bond after receiving the Disability Support Pension over 57 fortnights and being overpaid $8,214.15.
The offence was detected during a data-match with the Australian Tax Office in October 2013.
Mr Lawrence told the court through his lawyer Ms Power that he was given an increase in wages via a work motor vehicle and did not think he had to report the change to Centrelink.
"In 2011 Mr Lawrence was given an increase in wages via a work motor vehicle and he did not report to that to Centrelink," Ms Power said.
"My client would rather be working than receiving the pension, the extra payments help with medical bills and he finds himself on the pension due to a lifetime of physical work taking a toll on his body.
"The pension helps with his medical bills and Mr Lawrence is already paying the debt back at $258.70 each fortnight."
But Magistrate Dare said he failed to see how Mr Lawrence did not know he had a duty to report his pay rise to Centrelink.
"I don't get a lot of these cases because I'm sure most people are aware of their responsibility," he said.
After handing down his sentence Mr Dare said Mr Lawrence should make sure he followed the law regarding reporting his income to Centrelink. "If you fail to comply or commit this type offence again you could be re-sentenced," he said.
