Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2018 7:23:53 GMT 7
Centrelink drives Perth man to brink of bankruptcy after amputation
Australian Welfare News m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2139945576275465&id=1415019052101458
Centrelink drives Perth man to brink of bankruptcy after amputation Belinda Grant-Geary 5 hrs ago
A Perth amputee has been driven to the brink of bankruptcy by Centrelink after dealing with nine weeks of red tape to get benefits. Rowland Spurway is unable to pay rent, buy food or cover bills and says he has borrowed $4,000 from friends and family to keep his head above water.
He is still waiting for Centrelink to process his claim. The 54-year-old had no idea he was going to wake up without a toe and be out of work for months when he went in for surgery on April 9 for a diabetes-related issue. "I had an ulcer that got infected and when they went for the surgery they found out it had gotten into the bone so they had to remove my toe," Mr Spurway told nine.com.au. "The doctor initially said it would be one month off work, then it was another and another – now I don't know what I am going to do."
Knowing he wouldn't have enough money to get by as he recovered, Mr Spurway lodged a Sickness Allowance claim with Centrelink the day after his surgery. The father-of-one was told even though he is not an Australian citizen, the Englishman would be eligible for support as a permanent resident.
But as the weeks passed, he received no money and only more demands from Centrelink. "It feels like I have fallen down a crack – it just doesn't make sense to me. I was told a week waiting period but it has been nine for me," he said. Mr Spurway says he has been into the Centrelink office four times already. "When I go in this afternoon to give them my visa and passport it will be my fifth and they already photocopied all this when I first went in," he said. "Every time I supply the information they want there is always something more." Mr Spurway said in the 24 years he has been in Australia he's never been out of a job, or needed financial assistance. "It's so frustrating. I've never had to do this. I am not a seasoned bludger; I don't know the ins and outs. I just need help to get over this hurdle and get back to the workplace." The experienced electrician has a job to go back to – a requirement to be eligible for Sickness Allowance – but is unable to work as he can't wear the proper safety gear with his injury.
He still needs his dressing changed daily, is awaiting surgery to have a skin graft and can't do any strenuous physical activity as he has a tube inserted in his arm to funnel anti-biotics directly to his heart. Despite all this, all Mr Spurway wants to do is get back to work. He is so desperate for cash that he offered to sign a waiver to take responsibility for any injury at work. "I also approached my super to try and get some money from there but you have to be on Centrelink payments for 26 weeks before they will pay it," he said.
Mr Sprurway – who has worked since the age of 14 – is on anti-depressants and said having only $2 to his name has severely affected his mental health. "It's just the strain of it all. My credit card is maxed out, I don't know how I am going to cover rent; I can't even afford medication," he said. "If it weren't for my family and friends I would be on the street."
The Perth man said he felt "rather disappointed in the system" when he was asked for more supporting documentation. Nine.com.au has sighted a copy of this correspondence. "I don't begrudge people needing help but I have paid taxes for 20 years, I could have gone on the dole when I first moved to Australia but I decided to work and have never stopped. "I’ve done everything right but when I need help I am getting the run around."
Department of Human Services General Manager Hank Jongen said Centrelink "works hard" to process claims as quickly as possible. "The department prioritises claims for people experiencing financial hardship and encourages anyone in these circumstances to contact us," he told nine.com.au. "A claim may be able to be backdated to the date the claim was lodged," he told nine.com.au. He has offered to speak with Mr Spurway directly about his claim.
Australian Welfare News m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2139945576275465&id=1415019052101458
Centrelink drives Perth man to brink of bankruptcy after amputation Belinda Grant-Geary 5 hrs ago
A Perth amputee has been driven to the brink of bankruptcy by Centrelink after dealing with nine weeks of red tape to get benefits. Rowland Spurway is unable to pay rent, buy food or cover bills and says he has borrowed $4,000 from friends and family to keep his head above water.
He is still waiting for Centrelink to process his claim. The 54-year-old had no idea he was going to wake up without a toe and be out of work for months when he went in for surgery on April 9 for a diabetes-related issue. "I had an ulcer that got infected and when they went for the surgery they found out it had gotten into the bone so they had to remove my toe," Mr Spurway told nine.com.au. "The doctor initially said it would be one month off work, then it was another and another – now I don't know what I am going to do."
Knowing he wouldn't have enough money to get by as he recovered, Mr Spurway lodged a Sickness Allowance claim with Centrelink the day after his surgery. The father-of-one was told even though he is not an Australian citizen, the Englishman would be eligible for support as a permanent resident.
But as the weeks passed, he received no money and only more demands from Centrelink. "It feels like I have fallen down a crack – it just doesn't make sense to me. I was told a week waiting period but it has been nine for me," he said. Mr Spurway says he has been into the Centrelink office four times already. "When I go in this afternoon to give them my visa and passport it will be my fifth and they already photocopied all this when I first went in," he said. "Every time I supply the information they want there is always something more." Mr Spurway said in the 24 years he has been in Australia he's never been out of a job, or needed financial assistance. "It's so frustrating. I've never had to do this. I am not a seasoned bludger; I don't know the ins and outs. I just need help to get over this hurdle and get back to the workplace." The experienced electrician has a job to go back to – a requirement to be eligible for Sickness Allowance – but is unable to work as he can't wear the proper safety gear with his injury.
He still needs his dressing changed daily, is awaiting surgery to have a skin graft and can't do any strenuous physical activity as he has a tube inserted in his arm to funnel anti-biotics directly to his heart. Despite all this, all Mr Spurway wants to do is get back to work. He is so desperate for cash that he offered to sign a waiver to take responsibility for any injury at work. "I also approached my super to try and get some money from there but you have to be on Centrelink payments for 26 weeks before they will pay it," he said.
Mr Sprurway – who has worked since the age of 14 – is on anti-depressants and said having only $2 to his name has severely affected his mental health. "It's just the strain of it all. My credit card is maxed out, I don't know how I am going to cover rent; I can't even afford medication," he said. "If it weren't for my family and friends I would be on the street."
The Perth man said he felt "rather disappointed in the system" when he was asked for more supporting documentation. Nine.com.au has sighted a copy of this correspondence. "I don't begrudge people needing help but I have paid taxes for 20 years, I could have gone on the dole when I first moved to Australia but I decided to work and have never stopped. "I’ve done everything right but when I need help I am getting the run around."
Department of Human Services General Manager Hank Jongen said Centrelink "works hard" to process claims as quickly as possible. "The department prioritises claims for people experiencing financial hardship and encourages anyone in these circumstances to contact us," he told nine.com.au. "A claim may be able to be backdated to the date the claim was lodged," he told nine.com.au. He has offered to speak with Mr Spurway directly about his claim.
