David
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David is a senior citizen with a visual impairment. He told the Royal Commission about his experiences of workplace discrimination and financial abuse as an older Australian.
For more than two decades David had been working as a senior public servant. In the late 90s, in his early 50s, he had a stroke and lost his sight. When he came back to work he found himself in a new position and in a department that was transitioning to a paperless, computer-based working environment. ‘I was … having big problems coping with being in a work position as a VIP [Visually Impaired Person].’
David asked his employer to consider putting him on a part-time rehabilitation program. The personnel department dissuaded him from pursuing the idea.
‘The Officer I was talking to … doubted if a new private operator would keep on a VIP under a Part Time Rehab Program and I would also lose all my sick leave.’
David weighed up his options. At the time he qualified for a ‘Blind Pension’ and, because it was not means tested or taxed, he could also tap into his superannuation. David decided to leave the public service and retire earlier than planned.
He was also able to claim expenses such as a guide dog, a modified computer and technical equipment as tax deductions.
‘Everything went OK until I turned 65.’
David says he was shocked when Centrelink told him he was no longer eligible for the Disability Support Pension (Blind) (DSP Blind). Instead, he would have to apply for the Age Pension – which is not means tested, but is taxed.
‘They then wanted to know all my financial details & then told me that I earned to much with my super & would not qualify for an Age Pension.’
David challenged the decision and, after a lengthy process, won his appeal. Centrelink conceded that the Age Pension (Blind) is not means tested and revoked its decision.
David also had problems with the Australian Tax Office (ATO). He says generous tax deductions that apply under the DSP are not claimable once someone changes over to the Age Pension.
He discovered that once he turned 65, the working costs associated with having a guide dog were considered a living expense and were no longer tax deductable.
‘Surely if one is receiving an income for being blind that is taxable, then the cost of being blind should be deductable?’ said David.
‘So if a VIP saves for their retirement, when they turn 65 they lose at least a third of their pension. As an aging VIP I do require extra help & aids etc but have less money to pay?’
David says many visually impaired people like him may be unaware that when they turn 65, current federal legislation forces them to switch from one type of government pension to another – significantly impacting their financial situation and plans for retirement.
David believes that one way to address this is for the ATO to allow visually impaired seniors to claim the same tax deductions as they could before they turned 65.
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.