Perth parents encounter technical difficulties trying to claim cost-of-living student payouts

Frustrated parents have been unable to apply for hundreds of dollars in financial support due to technical issues with the state government’s ServiceWA and myGovID apps.

Last month the West Australian government unveiled the $103.5 million Student Assistance Payment program, which will provide payments for households with school-aged children amid the national cost-of-living crisis.

Families will be given payments to help with the cost of living.

Applications to receive payments of $250 for each secondary school student and $150 for each primary student and kindergartener opened on Monday.

One mother said it was a convoluted process to register for the Service WA and myGovID app.

“This is becoming the too hard basket or is it planned that way,” she wrote under Roger Cook’s Facebook post spruiking the scheme.

“My birth certificate is more than 50 years old and is unacceptable, I was born here, passport is still in maiden name, my ID is not acceptable.

“I have been going in circles.”

Many others have claimed on social media they have not been able to have their identity verified.

When WAtoday logged on to the ServiceWA app we were redirected to download a myGovID, which is different to myGov, where a range of error messages appeared including service unavailable and login timed out.

The scheme aims to assist families with the cost of school essentials – like books and IT equipment, sport and music costs, stationery, school shoes, uniforms, excursions and camps, plus other extra costs, including food and groceries.

Premier Roger Cook said if families claimed through the ServiceWA app, the payment would be received in around a week.

“As a Dad from Kwinana, I know how those extra costs during the school years can really add up, and want to make sure that every single family benefits from this program,” he said.

“Providing support to Western Australians facing higher cost of living pressures is my number one priority.”

Treasurer Rita Saffioti said the payment builds on the support already provided through the government’s free public transport initiatives, household electricity credits and targeted programs for those who need it most.

Shadow Education Minister Peter Rundle MLA has accused the Government of failing to disclosealternative pathways to access its highly touted Student Assistance Payment, which is available toclaim today.

Rundle said numerous families had contacted his office to express concern around a “burdensome” application process, which requires a compulsory sign up to the Service WA app.

“It was a strange decision to gate keep this funding behind a clunky and unhelpful app, rather thanensuring it is easily and readily available to all households,” he said.

“When I raised this issue with the Minister for Education in Parliament, he accused me offabricating these concerns, but one only needs to look at his social media accounts to see dozensof families have been unable to access the Service WA app.”

While the ServiceWA app is the fastest way to claim the WA Student Assistance Payment parents can also submit a claim online or by posting in a claim form. It would take around 30 days to process.

Applications close on 28 June.

The Premier’s office has been contacted for comment.

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