This article says portability now changed from 6 to 4 weeks

[Banjo]

May 9, 2014 17:33:07 GMT 7 struggling said:

Well It Looks grim !

Seems the Govt has the plan .... re valuate younger ( under 35s ) DSP pensioners to have them work , and move them to lower newstart payments ,indexing to decrease the DSP , portability to be cut for all DSP pensioners to 4 weeks overseas travel at a time ..
Have a contact at Centrelink whom has advised me , ( some intel from senior sources ) its a witch hunt , to stop younger work able recipients from surfing and living in Bali , if they actually exist ? I say fair enough and correctly so and then older long term folks currently living in Greece and Turkey whom are waiting to qualify for the aged pension with indefinite overseas residency.
Then there's this unjust and politically incorrect suggestion ..also there are older folks and some singles living in South East Asia ... Laos , Cambodia , Thailand and the Philippines , etc whom may not be able to work or obtain work in Australia competitively and wish to retire there eventually that currently receive DSP ?

OF THE 800000 FOLKS CURRENTLY ON DSP ONLY 473 FALL INTO THE LAST CATEGORY !

The government has to know that allowing the latter group to reside overseas actually saves them more money due to no medical costs etc .
An inside word from someone at Centrelink ... There may be a suggestion if you are an older recipient on the DSP and wish to go onto IP overseas you maybe can do so with a reduced pension payment ?

What is very evident is The Libs are making it more difficult for the lower income and poorer Aussies and want to punish anyone receiving welfare who doesn't live permanently in Australia

The problem with singling out a few offenders is that the technique that they use is penalising everybody.

I would say that there is a lot more likely to be more older people who got the DSP under easier circumstances that young recently assessed recipients who could work.
The problem with the older people is that most have been out of the work force that long that they are totally unemployable.
Retraining them would be totally out of the question for financial reasons alone.

Andrews said... how can some one on the DSP sit on a plane for 30 hours... the answer is with considerable pain and difficulty and a lengthy period of recovery afterwards.

[struggling]

I would say that there is a lot more likely to be more older people who got the DSP under easier circumstances that young recently assessed recipients who could work.
The problem with the older people is that most have been out of the work force that long that they are totally unemployable.
Retraining them would be totally out of the question for financial reasons alone.

Read more: dspoverseas.proboards.com/thread/3024/article-says-portability-changed-weeks?page=2#ixzz31DzW9TUy


Hello Banjo

Thank you for the comment and Congratulations on such a professional site !

Also as a recent reader ( very impressed too ) I'm sincerely sorry as i have a lengthy post herewith , but please be assured ill keep everything short in the future ...

Re your above comment ...I agree and Kevin Andrews recently stated how far do you go back ..? and the question is where do you start ?

I would like to point out one example , my Aussie friend has been caring for his elderly and frail mother for many years , he also waits in the Australian public health system for spinal surgery for an increasingly debilitating condition which rules out any type of constant physical work.
He and his mum suffer temporary severe financial hardship and are currently somewhat destitute as a Australian financial institution practiced maladministration resulting in them losing all their assets and income .

The bank apparently suspended prosecuted and jailed their branch franchise owner manager but refused to offer or pay them compensation.
They made official complaints and undertook legal proceedings which totally exhausted whatever small amount of funds they had left , they were forced to sell everything they owned until finally then were awarded judgment and await some form of payment.
As they became very reliant , their own family members ostracized and outcast them.

Obvious to say after facing insecurity , temporary homelessness , anxiety , despair ,suicidal tendencies and an attempt by his mother resulting in several months stay in a psychiatric facility my friend had to do something desperate to save his mum and himself.

For temporary survival they had no choice ( no other alternatives , no other accommodation )but seek shelter and accept a kind and generous offer from a Thai friend who has accommodated them in Thailand until they are financially compensated , they transparently have explained to centrelink of their circumstance as they temporarily reside outside Australia for the simple situation of survival.

My friend currently has to return to Australia every 6 weeks , with some physical and financial pains ( they can actually manage to save just enough for his regular flights home , as an aged and increasingly disabled pensioner his mother doesn't need too )but today he has corresponded his horror and worst fears he is facing further travel restrictions ..ie maximum 4 weeks portability , which means more frequent financial costs , increased travel , stress ...... etc ..

I have convinced him to write directly to Mr Kevin Andrews MP as he has a genuine , legitimate and necessary case that needs some sort of temporary extended portability , at the least on compassionate grounds.
My friend and his mother have been past hard working , tax paying and decent Australian citizens now due to no fault of their own are in a current state of needed financial support and assistance from their own government .

Off the topic for a minute ..I'm sorry !

Back on topic !

Banjo ! in example of my friends case what do you think ??

Do you feel he qualifies for temporary IP ?

Also as someone who has been kicked around by the system what do you think is about to happen with Australian Social Services ?

General punishment for 99.8% of recipients because a small minority maybe rorting the DSP , Kevin Andrews has ordered a recent investigation into a certain Mr Ray's case , apparently an Australian resident living in Bali whom had his DSP re instated , and i think personally a sore point for him and his department .

I personally think all the intended changes the media are throwing about re Social services if implemented will cause much more financial stress , and perhaps personal physiological and psychological problems with added insecurity issues for the genuine recipients.

Banjo can i ask you personally all the good and potentially positive work you indeed seek to produce here ?

How do you feel about these potential changes ?

What about the reduction of portability to people on the DSP reduced to 28 days overseas at any time ?

Fair

If school leavers have to wait 6 months for the dole , well wont that increase certain domestic crime ?
How do you police that with an already insufficient police budget


Criminalising Disability in the Media !

Yes Sir ! You wrote about it , the media play it and i think our current government thinks it !

Do you think Australia is becoming a segregated state ?

One government for the rich and none for the poor ?

What ever happened to the true blue aussie way .... equality , fairness and a fair go for everyone ?

How do you re valuate and test 800000 people regularly and to what cost ?

If Australia is in so much deficit ?? umm then how do you cost all the above tests ?

Why don't we just mail out one simple and easy solution ... Cyanide capsules for all our pensioners ?

Don't laugh so loud as their is possibly some bureaucrat reading this and wants to do it or wishes he just could !
I see so many politicians saying this is un Australian or that is un Australian come Tuesday night will all see just how un Australian we have become !


Edit: Lets not get involved in discussing whether one group is more deserving than the other. Banjo.

I'm sorry Banjo i merely meant it as an example , without prejudice  .. both groups shouldn't be treated differently by their government !

[immiadvice]

Hi struggling. That is an awful predicament your friend and his mother are in. I feel for them.

You ask about your friend qualifying for a "temporary IP". Sadly not, as its a contradictory term. There are though provisions within the portability legislation for extensions due to unforseen circumstances. Your friend still would not qualify given the evidence you have provided.

All he could essentially do is apply for the IP and wait the many months to be evaluated. That is, if the IP law is not removed by the government.

Writing to the MP's has been done with varying degrees of success by many people here however mostly negative experiences. I actually worked on a way to get a q&a response that was successful with Jenny Macklins office back when she was the minister when we were fighting the residency changes. The way I did it was compose a well thought out and well written letter. Then scan it as a very high resolution PDF. Attach it and send from multiple email addresses, flooding the inbox while the attachments were downloaded. Then I would ring the office to confirm my emails got through as I wasn't sure since no reply. I would repeat this process daily until I got real attention.

A number of us also got our submissions published in the senate enquiry in 2010 regarding residency. It may not have stopped the legislation change then but may have paved the way for the IP legislation that followed.


Keep pushing your point and eventually you'll be heard!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[struggling]

Hello Immiadvice !

Pleased and honored to meet you here !

Thank you for the comment and i have asked my friend to join up here .

What do you think about the proposed portability changes as mentioned today ?

Just media talk ( one newspaper ) or possibly fact ?

What a devastating blow for DSP pensioners who have to or want to live outside Australia either temporarily or permanently ?

Also have you heard the rumors that the Aus government has an agenda to have everyone on IP or UP reduced back to basic portability ? that one sounds impossible but I've heard it from a centrelink source .
Originally 24 weeks then 13 weeks then 6 weeks now maybe ...4 weeks then it will be 2 weeks

Very keen to hear your thoughts due to your much respected experience

[immiadvice]

One thing to note, as I and many others gathered during proposed changes to centrelink legislation over the years is don't listen to rumours from sources within centrelink as they haven't got a clue what the government policy makers are up to.

Sure, the government may revoke the IP legislation. I really don't know why they would as there would be no savings for the government on this one. It has been shown time and time again how IP for the permanently disabled can save the government considerable money.

I can see why they are thinking of reducing portability though. They don't want to support the lifestyles of people overseas that maybe don't qualify for DSP anymore. This I am somewhat supportive of however I feel that the conditions should be widened to include more evidence then just the impairment tables. There is more than just a score of 20 that determines whether there is a possible future work capacity.




Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[struggling]

ALMOST 30,000 Australians under 35 claiming a disability pension will be reassessed for their fitness for work by independent government appointed doctors under welfare reforms contained in next week’s Budget.

The move will be the first step on the road to a radical reform of the welfare system to be unveiled in next Tuesday’s financial blueprint.

The Saturday Telegraph has learned a nationwide audit of the bloated Disability Support Pension will finally be undertaken for all recipients under 35 who escaped the 2008 reforms to tighten eligibility criteria.

Those found to have the capacity to conduct work experience, education, training or job search will be forced into compulsory work or training participation from July 1 or have payments suspended.
The Saturday Telegraph also confirmed the PM ticked off yesterday on the final figures for the debt and deficit levy, locking in a 2 per cent hike to the highest tax margin of 45 per cent for those earning incomes of more than $180,000.

“The thing was never fixed. There were a whole range of options we looked at,” Mr Abbott told The Saturday Telegraph in an exclusive interview. “I’m confident that we have landed in the best space which is most faithful to our commitments … and which ensures it is fair.”

In recognition that reform to the spiralling cost of welfare payments had failed to be addressed, Mr Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey will personally take control of welfare reform from Human Services Minister Kevin Andrews.

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/disability-support-pensioners-under-35-to-be-reassessed-for-fitness-to-work-under-budget-welfare-reform/story-fni0cx12-1226912358132#social-comments

[dani]

May 10, 2014 4:16:42 GMT 7 struggling said:

ALMOST 30,000 Australians under 35 claiming a disability pension will be reassessed for their fitness for work by independent government appointed doctors under welfare reforms contained in next week’s Budget.

The move will be the first step on the road to a radical reform of the welfare system to be unveiled in next Tuesday’s financial blueprint.

The Saturday Telegraph has learned a nationwide audit of the bloated Disability Support Pension will finally be undertaken for all recipients under 35 who escaped the 2008 reforms to tighten eligibility criteria.

Those found to have the capacity to conduct work experience, education, training or job search will be forced into compulsory work or training participation from July 1 or have payments suspended.
The Saturday Telegraph also confirmed the PM ticked off yesterday on the final figures for the debt and deficit levy, locking in a 2 per cent hike to the highest tax margin of 45 per cent for those earning incomes of more than $180,000.

“The thing was never fixed. There were a whole range of options we looked at,” Mr Abbott told The Saturday Telegraph in an exclusive interview. “I’m confident that we have landed in the best space which is most faithful to our commitments … and which ensures it is fair.”

In recognition that reform to the spiralling cost of welfare payments had failed to be addressed, Mr Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey will personally take control of welfare reform from Human Services Minister Kevin Andrews.

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/disability-support-pensioners-under-35-to-be-reassessed-for-fitness-to-work-under-budget-welfare-reform/story-fni0cx12-1226912358132#social-comments

So does the following quote in the article mean that anyone with a condition that is not permanent like mental illness will jst be kicked off the DSP... looks like it.
"They will report by the end of the year on a series of fundamental reforms to the welfare system which will lead to the DSP, which is the now the fifth largest expenditure item in the budget with more than 800,000 recipients, being reserved only for people with a permanent impairment leaving them no capacity to work"

[scallywag]

Time to celebrate? Make no mistake, these two are celebrating a job well done, so don't believe them when they tell you how hard it was to make their decisions.

hockey and cormann doing some heavy lifting.

www.brisbanetimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/treasurer-joe-hockey-and-finance-minister-mathias-cormann-pictured-smoking-cigars-ahead-of-tough-budget-20140509-zr8i3.html

[Banjo]

Doing it hard for the economy.

[blahblahblah]

Nothing to worry about when you have a parliamentary pension waiting for you.

[Banjo]

I'd like to see the wrappers.
Find out if they're supporting the nasty Communist Cuban economy.

[struggling]

The Saturday Telegraph has learned a nationwide audit of the bloated Disability Support Pension will finally be undertaken for all recipients under 35 who escaped the 2008 reforms to tighten eligibility criteria.

Read more: dspoverseas.proboards.com/thread/3024/article-says-portability-changed-weeks?page=2#ixzz31IEq9Fif

ESCAPED does this paragraph suggest criminal activity If this is not proof of general criminalisation or stereotyping then what is ?
Is this Liberal media release ( leakage ) or some journalists own mouth ?

[struggling]

"They will report by the end of the year on a series of fundamental reforms to the welfare system which will lead to the DSP, which is the now the fifth largest expenditure item in the budget with more than 800,000 recipients, being reserved only for people with a permanent impairment leaving them no capacity to work"

Read more: dspoverseas.proboards.com/thread/3024/article-says-portability-changed-weeks?page=2&scrollTo=26223#ixzz31IGXvZgi

As quoted in the above article Abbott and Hockey are taking the responsibility ( direct blame ) of squeezing the DSP away from Kevin Andrews and will personally see its reforms through .
DSP recipients seem to have become their own personal target ?
It would seem they consider ( their on personal God given right )to see the only folks entitled to receive a DSP will be in a wheelchair permanently with say a maximum of 10% of normal everyday mobility.
Any mental illness unless totally debilitating will be not considered a disability so those folks will be left to no / new start ( much cheaper )and to fend for themselves looking for work without any prospects of employment support or training .

Most of average Australia don't understand mental illness issues or simply are afraid to accept it exits , so they seem prejudiced against it.

Even the LIB supporters have some compassion and are now starting to think ?? wait a minute ...umm thats a bit harsh ? thats going to cause a real mess and cost a lot to try to clean up , oh that won't make our ever proud Australia look too good on the world stage ?

Mr Abbott's future problems (regardless of any honourable or correct intentions of trying to alleviate individuals rorting the welfare system ) will come from dissident within his own party , a quiet murmur of no confidence , then like so many politicians anywhere ..late one night a few internal calls an emails , then one morning a straight faced replacement publically states his / her view its time for a change of leadership and he /her is your new PM , hoping you will buy their vocabulary through to the next election.

Mt Hockey and Mr Corman are kicking back with a cigar ? heavy lifting ? well perhaps they have another agenda like most politicians do .... Australia could have a new PM and deputy PM in a few months , as Mr Abbott may of served his purpose to the REAL MAJOR Liberal Party supporters , the real power brokers of the LNP , the mining magnates and corporate giants that actually run Australia and its politics through party funding , tax and revenue contributions to the government and policy reforms and suggestions.

Gina Rinehart has always been openly critical of our welfare system and its recipients , and as the world's richest woman and a tough Australian she obviously wields a lot of indirect power .
She has the ability to have as many 457 temporary immigrant visas as she wants and her own personal agenda in order is her own bottom line then Australias bottom line .

Thats what the current LNP government is now showing ... $ first

There is a current deficit problem which has to be addressed but at what cost to peoples lives ?
Then there are aspiring politicians like Mr Abbott who'll do anything you want as long as you make him what he wants to be , problem for him is he is also disposable when you get what you want ?

Paul Keating recently quoted on a television interview , you can watch on you tube ?

The trouble is ....TONY ABBOTT'S POINT ... YOU GIVE ME WHAT I WANT OR ILL WRECK THE PLACE

I don't think thats Tony Abbott ... It's The mining magnates .. in particular its very much Gina Rinehart


Its going to be a very tough time for all Australians whom depend on welfare assistance and i think you will see many sad and painful posts here over the future months .
So many of Banjos topics highlight these warnings here and i personally have the view the only way to have fair treatment is through The Greens .