Thousands missing out on 'life-changing' government support.
Oct 2, 2022 4:45:24 GMT 7
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Post by bear on Oct 2, 2022 4:45:24 GMT 7
Thousands of vulnerable Australians missing out on 'life-changing' government support.
Many say they're missing out on life-changing support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was set up to protect vulnerable Australians but many say they're missing out on life-changing support from the government funding.
An age barrier means not all funding is equal and now momentum is building to overhaul the system.
Helen Bonynge, 70, and Robyn Abrahams, 72, are two people impacted by the barrier and are gearing up to fight the government.
Both women are missing out on what they say would be life-changing financial assistance due to the NDIS not being rolled out where they live, before the cut-off age of 65.
Bonynge lives in a wheelchair after becoming paralysed following radiation treatment for cancer seven years ago.
"It feels like I was just rejected, it feels like you were just seen as unworthy," Bonynge told 9News of the NDIS system.
While Abrahams, who uses a walking stick to get around, is living with post polio syndrome.
"You have to be very frugal about what you can do and have," Abrahams told 9News.
"You're not in control of your destiny and there's certainly not a lot of dignity provided to the process at all."
The women say the alternate scheme, provided via the aged care system isn't enough to cover the cost of basic care.
Half of Australians aged over 65 have a disability but only those who were already on the NDIS before that birthday can choose to remain on it.
If you acquire a disability later in life, you'll be referred to My Aged Care. That funding is means tested and capped at $56,000 a year, compared to around $111,000 on the NDIS.
"There's a significant difference built into the system," Ian Yates from Council on the Aging told 9News.
Now, a class action wants to remove the age cap. Mitry Lawyers says the exclusion of over 65s may be unconstitutional, resulting in hardship for thousands of Australians.
The government has told 9News it won't comment on the class action and there's no plan to extend the NDIS to people over 65.
"It should be a human right," Yates said.
"It shouldn't be that an age cut off restricts the kind of support you receive when it's being offered to other members of the community."
amp.9news.com.au/article/ade7269b-4f6b-4c06-b142-4285194bb00f
Many say they're missing out on life-changing support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was set up to protect vulnerable Australians but many say they're missing out on life-changing support from the government funding.
An age barrier means not all funding is equal and now momentum is building to overhaul the system.
Helen Bonynge, 70, and Robyn Abrahams, 72, are two people impacted by the barrier and are gearing up to fight the government.
Both women are missing out on what they say would be life-changing financial assistance due to the NDIS not being rolled out where they live, before the cut-off age of 65.
Bonynge lives in a wheelchair after becoming paralysed following radiation treatment for cancer seven years ago.
"It feels like I was just rejected, it feels like you were just seen as unworthy," Bonynge told 9News of the NDIS system.
While Abrahams, who uses a walking stick to get around, is living with post polio syndrome.
"You have to be very frugal about what you can do and have," Abrahams told 9News.
"You're not in control of your destiny and there's certainly not a lot of dignity provided to the process at all."
The women say the alternate scheme, provided via the aged care system isn't enough to cover the cost of basic care.
Half of Australians aged over 65 have a disability but only those who were already on the NDIS before that birthday can choose to remain on it.
If you acquire a disability later in life, you'll be referred to My Aged Care. That funding is means tested and capped at $56,000 a year, compared to around $111,000 on the NDIS.
"There's a significant difference built into the system," Ian Yates from Council on the Aging told 9News.
Now, a class action wants to remove the age cap. Mitry Lawyers says the exclusion of over 65s may be unconstitutional, resulting in hardship for thousands of Australians.
The government has told 9News it won't comment on the class action and there's no plan to extend the NDIS to people over 65.
"It should be a human right," Yates said.
"It shouldn't be that an age cut off restricts the kind of support you receive when it's being offered to other members of the community."
amp.9news.com.au/article/ade7269b-4f6b-4c06-b142-4285194bb00f
