Duk
- here's Bea
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DUK - HERE'S JILL The Fielding branch of Work and Income NZ has a new girl on the block. Jill Tait, (also known as Jill Topia) Service Centre Manager, has recently cancelled an invalid beneficiary's transport-disability allowance deemed as essential by the medical profession and ruled valid by several Benefit Review Tribunal's. (Committees). If you are not getting a fair deal from your case manager write to:
Peter
Hughes And/or
Office
of the Ombudsmen |
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On the 23rd of April 1998, it was determined by the Social Security Appeal Authority that 47 year old married woman (now 60) of Lower Hutt, had lost her independent function due to Resinual Schizophrenia (chronic lack of motivation) and was declared a disabled person under 69C of the Social Security Act 1964.
The Judge awarded the woman, Sheryl, 54kms a week travel costs to visit her 97 year old father who lived in Wellington. The Appeal Authority also awarded the woman other transport disability costs. This enabled her husband to provide and sustain in-home treatment for his wife. (Although the allowable cost is 42 cents a km, Work and Income only pay 30% of that 42cents about 12.6 cents a km)
These are the weekly transport activities allowed by the Social Security Appeal Authority.
a. Transport to visit a relative or friend.
b. Transport to a recreational facility.
c. Transport to buy clothing.
d. Transport (drives) for the purpose of relaxation.
e. Transport to buy groceries.
f. Transport to chemist.
Shortly afterward, for economic reasons, she and her husband moved to the Horowhenua.
The elderly couple, whose sole income is the Married rate of invalids benefit, underwent their annual Invalid Benefit Review each year for the next five years.
Everything was fine. Sheryl was receiving the treatment needed to keep her reasonably stable. A few months ago, Jill Tait (Jill Topia) the Feilding Service Centre Manager, decided that she would take over as Case Manager for the couple.
On 21 August last, Sheryl's Invalids Benefit was due for its annual review. As usual her medical Practitioner stated on the WINZ Disability Certificate that the Transport-disability allowances were still necessary and of therapeutic value for Sheryl's disability of Schizophrenia.
It was expected to be a mere formality that the transport-disability costs would remain as in previous years. However, Work and Income, without warning, wrote to Sheryl on the 15 September 2004, to say that ALL her transport-disability costs were cancelled from that day.
Work and Income NZ also thought it appropriate to over-rule another judicial decision. This ruling allowed Sheryl $29 a month toward Telecom's 'Favorite Places' rental plan which enabled Sheryl to telephone her 103 year old father during off peak hours and talk with him for as long as she liked. Now, Sheryl will be unable to telephone her dad almost every night as she did before. Both will miss out on the opportunity to speak to each other on a regular basis.
Sheryl is aware that her father's time is running out, and is trying to come to terms with the fact that she will no longer be able to visit her centenarian dad as often as before - thanks to the Service Centre Manager at Feilding Work and Income NZ, Jill Tait.
Another interesting aspect of this story is that Sheryl's current renewal date was 21 August 2004. However, Work and Income New Zealand waited 25 days after the Benefit renewal date before informing Sheryl that it had cancelled all her transport-disability allowances (except travel to her doctor) and Telecom's Favourite Places allowance. And that the cancellations were to take effect on 15th September 04 - Sheryl's 60th birthday.
It has been revealed to the writer that cancellation of essential assistance is often activated on a beneficiaries birthday. It gives WINZ bosses and staff a bit of a laugh.
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The Lie - “Though your disability and other costs have remained the same or increased you cannot continue to receive T.A.S.....you have had three reviews....that is all we can do”. Ministry policy is: “Where the client may not be able to improve their financial circumstances. In these cases a client may still qualify for Temporary Additional Support.” Special Benefit and Temporary Additional Support are, to all intents and purposes, the same benefit. Both are administered under s. 61G of the Social Security Act 1964.
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If your costs have not reduced, you are entitled to a continuation of Special Benefit – Temporary Assistance Support. This support can go on indefinitely. See: The lie
Work and Income employees are a law unto themselves. This is evidenced by the testimony of thousands of hard pressed New Zealanders. There are many disadvantaged and disabled kiwi's in jail, sick, hospitalized or dead as a result of the mean, unproactive spirit emitting from Work and Income employees.
