Dale
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Dale is in his early 50s and has a number of chronic conditions, including osteoarthritis and hypertension.
‘These conditions cause pain and restrict my movement. I have also had a parotidectomy [the parotid gland removed], which restricts movement in my shoulder and causes soreness in my neck. I take prescription opioids for the pain.’
Dale told the Royal Commission that Centrelink rejected him four times in 12 years for the Disability Support Pension (DSP).
‘There’s no simple explanation of what they want. The information on the website is very confusing and sent me around in circles.’
Each time he applied, his general practitioner and specialists provided evidence of his disability. Dale doesn’t have health insurance and waited six months to see his orthopaedic surgeon.
‘They wrote down my symptoms, my prognosis, my treatment and my future treatment. They scribbled it down in about five minutes, but they don’t understand what the department wants either.’
He’s not sure why Centrelink rejected his applications.
‘I just received a letter telling me there wasn’t enough evidence and I didn’t have 20 points. The 20 points was even more confusing. I didn’t understand that bit. I thought I came within it.’
At first, Dale wasn’t aware he could appeal the decisions. When he discovered he could, he was unable to meet the 13-week deadline.
‘It’s impossible to get in to see a specialist in the public system within that timeframe, so I couldn’t do it.’
When Dale last applied for the DSP, Centrelink asked him into an office to assess his capacity to work. During the appointment he sat for half an hour in a chair that caused him pain.
‘The woman doing the assessment told me to lay on the floor, but it was dirty. I didn’t want to lay on a dirty floor so I stayed sitting in the chair. I sat there in agony while she did the assessment.’
Dale said he complained to Centrelink, but there was no apology.
‘They just said it wouldn’t happen again. I felt really low and disrespected. It was the kick in the guts that really put me over the edge.’
Dale found an advocate to help him apply for the DSP for the fifth time.
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.