An 80-year-old widower has been left nearly penniless after his Centrelink pension was allegedly cut off without notice, in part, because of a faded number on his birth certificate.

The NSW man, Ron - who did not wish his surname to be published for fear of retribution from the government agency - claims he stopped receiving his fortnightly carers pension on 8 January.

Ron first became aware his payments had stopped when his pension card wouldn’t work while collecting prescriptions at his local pharmacy in Lake Macquarie, north of Sydney.

After visiting his Centrelink branch for answers, he was told his benefit had ceased following the death of his wife of 59-years, Joan, three months earlier in October last year.

Despite adamantly informing the Centrelink worker he never received any notice his pension would be cancelled, Ron was sent on his way.

That meeting would trigger the start of a frustrating battle between Ron, his family, and his local Centrelink branch to reinstate his aged pension and leave him without an active pension card, opal pension card or access to money.

It would also air alleged dysfunction within the branch, including claims a branch worker asked Ron for proof of his wife’s death other than her death certificate and told him “he didn’t exist” in the system.

Louise Harmey, one of Ron’s daughters, told nine.com.au she and her family are at their emotional “wits end”.

“They were saying they had nothing on file for identification at all,” she said.

“They also required information about my mum, they asked him, ‘Other than mum’s death certificate did he have anything to prove that she passed?’ My sister was like, ‘What? Her ashes’.”

Ms Harmey also claims a Centrelink worker in the branch admitted to her father there was no evidence in his file that he had been sent a notice about his pension being cancelled.

In an email to nine.com.au, a Department of Human Services spokesperson said a Centrelink specialist would contact Ron to discuss his situation. Ms Harmey confirmed contact had been made and her father’s case had been elevated “to the top level”.

Ms Harmey said outside the almost weekly visits to Centrelink and calls to its complaints line, what was also frustrating about the claims Centrelink had no record of identification of her father was the fact he had been on benefits for three decades.

Ron, who Ms Harmey describes as “a giver who never asks for anything”, was medically retired from his job with an air conditioning company in his early 50s because of arthritis in his spine.

As Ms Harmey would discover, the reason her father’s information could not be found was because Centrelink was relying on documentation that was 30 years old. This included a birth certificate that was held together with sticky tape.

Ron, an 80-year-old widower, has been left nearly penniless after his Centrelink pension was allegedly cut off without notice. (Supplied)

“The loop on the top of the eight on the paper was too faint once it was uploaded,” she said.

“I did throw around that he’s been paid an aged pension since he was 65. Why is it not able to be paid? I was constantly told it was because of new legislation.”

At the request of the Centrelink branch manager Ron provided a new copy of his birth certificate.

However, Ms Harmey claims they continued to face obstacles.

“We were there on Monday and nothing has still happened,” she said, adding the situation had left her father relying on family for financial support.

She said her father’s only access to money was in an account set aside to pay for his funeral – something he’d organised after his wife died.

“It’s really tough. It’s not only he’s gone through losing mum but now he’s dealing with no money. He’s just paid out for a funeral. It’s just so unfair. Everything has just snowballed,” Ms Harmey said.

“It’s not fair to treat an elderly man like this. We’re at our wits end.”

In a statement, Centrelink's Department of Human Services General Manager Hank Jongen said: “I’m very sorry to hear about this man’s experience at this difficult time. We are in contact with his family and are working with them to ensure all appropriate support is offered while his claim is being finalised.”