Successful claims ‘plummeting’

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-24/rule-change-leads-to-plunge-in-disability-pension-claims/7538070

People impaired to the state of being unable to work, are being treated in a cruel and inhumane manner by Centrelink.

Centrelink blames the legislation for them denying DISABILITY SUPPORT PENSION to thousands of people but the issue is the interpretation of the legislation BY Centrelink as instructed by the LIBERAL MINISTER.

The Liberal/National Coalition are ensuring disabled people remain on Newstart allowance in the long term which leaves them trying to live on an allowance which is only half of the poverty line. The poverty line in Australia is $500 per week for a single person vs the Newstart allowance which is $264 per week VS $438 for the DISABILITY SUPPORT PENSION.

Links

Links to useful websites… main site for Department of Human Services – disability support pension… claim forms… it is recommended that new applicants check the website for t…

Source: Links

Links

Links to useful websites… main site for Department of Human Services – disability support pension… claim forms… it is recommended that new applicants check the website for t…

Source: Links

Election

As at 7th July 2016, the Australian Election was holding up the development of this site.

Reason being it was hoped that when the election was called, it would lead to a change in Government from a liberal to a labour government.

It is noted that it was Labour government Minister, the Hon. Jenny Macklin, who implemented new Disability Impairment tables that are used to assess a person’s eligibility for the Disability Support Pension in 2011.

{Social Security (Tables for the Assessment of Work-related Impairment for Disability Support Pension) Determination 2011

Social Security Act 1991

I, JENNY MACKLIN, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, make this Determination under subsection 26(1) of the Social Security Act 1991.

Dated 6th December 2011
(link: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2011L02716 )}

It was hoped that Labour would get into government and that would lead to a review of the impairment tables given that the office of Jenny Macklin (from a personal comment in 2015) has realised that there have been issues associated with the implementation of the tables that her name is on. ( Of course that means how the Department of Human Services/Centrelink have implemented the tables under a Liberal Government.

The quote below is from the Jenny Macklin web site:

“LABOR WILL MAINTAIN A FAIR PENSION SYSTEM

A Shorten Labor Government will ensure Australia’s pension system is fair and sustainable into the future. Labor believes that pensioners deserve dignity in retirement. We also believe that people who rely on the disability support pension and the carer payment should not be forced to live in poverty. That is why… Read more ”

UNFORTUNATELY THE LINK HAD NO NORE DATA ON THE LABOUR POLICY
(see http://www.jennymacklin.net.au/ news section)

BUT at least the person whose name is on the Impairment tables would hopefully be back as Minister and be able to instigate a review of them!

But NO NO NO there goes that idea, given as of today, 7th July 2016, it is looking more and more like an uncaring Liberal Government will be staying in government…

Disability Support Pension in Australia

This blog aims to assist DSP applicants work their way through the DSP application process by providing support, tips and links to organisations that can help you.

It provides a forum for applicants, their families and carers and other concerned people to air views and experiences.

Developing a disabling condition or conditions can be a very daunting time in a person’s life.

In Australia we have always relied on Centrelink and a relatively good welfare system, compared to some other nations, that is there for us when we are in need.

In reality, times have changed and an aging population and increasing retirement ages, and therefore the prospect of an ever increasing demand for the disability support pension, have caused the Australian government to carefully manage the disability support pension system.

That increasing demand is also combined with a relatively small number of non-deserving people who have taken ‘advantage’ of the DSP system in the past, and therefore ‘spoiling’ it for new applicants in need now and in the future. What this means is most DSP applicants have a difficult time ahead.  Not only do applicants have to come to terms with their disabling conditions, but it means they also have to come to terms with a difficult DSP application system.

This blog was started 3 March, 2016, as a not for profit web resource and is still in development.