The year ahead looks daunting. For months now I’ve feared a letter in the mail that tells me my Disability Pension (DSP) is under review. Ever since the A New System for Better Employment and Social Outcomes review was released in February 2015 I have feared what changes the current government will implement and how this will effect thousands of people currently surviving on DPS. Now the governments budget has been released my fear grows exponentially. The government has announced it is going to crack down on welfare cheats and non-compliance, which will return $1.5 billion over 4 years.
This means the real possibility of sweeping changes to alter the current assessment to receive certain payments. As the government has already made it abundantly clear, they want to get as many people as possible into work. One can only conclude that the suggestions in the review will be adopted and thousands of people on DPS will have their eligibility reaccessed. Even if no changes are made and all they do is reassess eligibility, under the current strict guidelines, many will be taken off DPS and placed on unemployment benefits. Myself included.
Many people think getting on DPS is easy and that there are many receiving this government payment that do not deserve it. Often people on DPS are considered rorting the system. It isn’t the case. My own experience was one of great stress when first applying. I failed the first time because my symptoms are episodic. I may have a few days of being almost well followed by many days of incapacity. Proving this to the Social Services nurse that first accessed my case was a disaster. I could pick my handbag up off the floor and could sit long enough for the interview. It didn’t matter I was having a good day. It didn’t matter at that stage I was using a cane to aid my walking. Nor did the doctors and specialists recommendations that I be placed on DPS due to ongoing illness. I didn’t have a diagnosis then but even if I had, having Fibromyalgia would not have aided my claim. I was accessed more on that face to face interview than all the medical reports I brought in. I know this was the case due to the person who interviewed my on my second attempt months later.
After waiting the required amount of time before re-lodging my claim I was lucky enough to be sent to a private company to assess my eligibility. The man was wonderful, not cold and clinical like the nurse. I told him forthright that I had purposely made my symptoms worse so that my pain and suffering was visibly evident. He questioned me as to why I would put myself through such an ordeal and was surprised by my honest answers. It was simple really. Pain is the hardest thing in the world to prove as it is within you. Sometimes there are clear medical reasons for it but like mine, it is not always so clear. I had to show that I was really suffering and incapacitated.
I switched between sitting and standing for the hour long interview continuously. Reciting over and over again my medical history, my current illness and what capacity I had for work. It was terrifying. The man was wonderfully caring though. Offered me breaks (which I refused), water and even helped me stand up when I couldn’t do it on my own. He told me how the interview works and why I would of failed the first one. I was astonished that in the end, the face to face contact decided my fate.
Now with the Government’s tightening on eligibility for the DPS and their hunger to reclaim money, the time to face such an interview will be upon me and many more soon. Already many of those under 35 have have been reassessed. Many have lost their DPS. We are the sick, the invalids and we are a drain on the Governments funds. It feels like we will be eradicated because we truly have no voice, no power to show our concerns. How could we when so many in the wider community believe us to be leeches of their hard earned tax dollars.
The future is one of fear and dark days. No longer do I feel lucky to live in a country that cares for those that are ill.
I have sent letters of my concerns to Prime Minister Abbott. I was told to direct my concerns to another Minister, which I did. The Minister Mr Morrison for Social Services forwarded my letters to another Minister who sent me the political rubbish they had been reporting to the media, without addressing my concerns at all. Finally I sent copies of my letters to Mrs Macklin a Labor Minister who did her best to address my concerns and assure me that the Labor party will fight not to have these changes implemented. I am grateful for her reply though I feel as though I wasted my time, that my views are considered worthless by those in power, but I’m still glad I tried to bring light to such a significant issue. I gave a little voice to something that will effect thousands. If there are enough little voices crying out, just maybe they can join to create a boom.
harpyfreedom 