Alcoholics, addicts to be stripped of disability pensions
Alcoholics and drug addicts would lose access to welfare payments as part of a federal government crackdown designed to save taxpayers $22 million.
From July 1, welfare recipients with a substance addiction could be required to undergo rehabilitation or get counselling, and demonstrate how they are looking for work, if they want to keep their Disability Support Pension.
Parliament on Thursday is set to debate the welfare crackdown proposal flagged in the May budget, which also announced plans to trial drug testing for the unemployed.
Alcoholics who claims the Disability Support Pension for their addiction face a crackdown
The government wants to remove access to the disability pension for recipients who are claiming it on the basis they are abusing drugs or alcohol.
The existing law allows Australians to claim up to $808 a fortnight if they have a ‘functional impairment’ linked to an addiction to alcohol or drugs.
Glue, petrol and the misuse of prescription drugs also fall under this criteria.
Social Services Minister Christian Porter wants to change this in a bid to save taxpayers $21.7 million over five years.
The government wants to save $22 million by taking disability support away from drug addicts
St Vincent’s Health is unconvinced the disability support crackdown will help drug addicts
About 772,600 are now receiving the Disability Support Pension, however the government estimates only 450 people will be affected with 90 per cent of those people eligible to claim the Newstart unemployment benefit or Youth Allowance.
The Newstart allowance is $536 a fortnight while the Youth Allowance pays $438 over the same period, both of which are significantly less than the disability pension.
Welfare groups are outraged.
St Vincent’s Health said the plan to crack down on disability pensions would do little to help them find work.
‘These are people so struggling with the damage caused by years of alcohol and drug misuse they are unable to cope, let alone find a job,’ they tweeted.
‘It is unrealistic to think a person with severe substance dependence will stop using and start job-hunting because they can’t access DSP.’
Another charity Uniting CareAustralia is urging the Senate to block the welfare crackdown plan.
‘We urge Senate to block cruel changes to eligibility for the Disability Support Pension for chronic substance abusers,’ they tweeted.
UnitingCareAustralia is urging the Senate to block the government’s welfare crackdown plan
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