From The Australian: PEOPLE with disabilities are keen to work and threatening them with a loss of benefits won’t help them break into the labour market. That is the conclusion of a report sent to Social Services Minister Scott Morrison in the hope he will take a broader look at how to reform the Disability Support Pension, with the sector concerned that the government is considering draconian cuts in the lead-up to the May budget. “The report reveals the fallacy of the assumption that people on DSP don’t want to work,’’ National Welfare Rights Network president Maree O’Halloran said. “It also casts doubt on the presumption that the social security system is the best tool for activation. Many people are already motivated, but the support structures and opportunities are just not sufficient.” The report was commissioned after the government announced the McClure review into the social security system. “People with disabilities who took part in our research didn’t need hectoring about the benefits of work: all interviewees had previous employment in the paid workforce, and a number worked while on the DSP when their illness allowed,’’ Ms O’Halloran said. “When they couldn’t find paid work, they undertook voluntary work, work experience or worked at reduced wages. Most had expectations of future employment and had plans for employment or further education. “What’s needed is better employment services, more job opportunities via employer incentives, and adequate income support which meets the higher costs of living with disability and provides adequate financial security to transition back to work. “People were concerned that the government’s welfare plans would leave them with less income to cover their daily expenses, which were higher as a result of living with a disability.” The report also questions whether a compliance-based approach, with the threat of financial penalties and the removal of scarce funds needed to pay for rent and medicines, is fair given there is no government jobs plan for people with disabilities. And it asks whether assistance through employment service programs works as intended. “These real-life stories are powerful anecdotes to the popular narrative played out in the tabloid media that people on the DSP are generally bludgers,’’ Ms O’Halloran said. The NWRN partnered with People with Disabilities Australia and Mental Health Australia to produce the report. Link to the article: theaustralian.au/subscribe/news/1/index.html?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&mode=premium&dest=theaustralian.au/national-affairs/threats-no-help-for-jobless-disabled/story-fn59niix-1227185076598?sv=e8210466d7980778dedb97cf4a2d13c3&memtype=anonymous#/.VLhaXrNCCGY.linkedin
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 01:23:18 +0000
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