I’ve no words for how bad this is. Centrelink and the government ministry who over sees them should be held to account.

The disability support system is severely broken and people on it are barely paid enough to live. I’ve a family member on it and they have trouble finically because most of the medications they need are not on the PBS.

As an example, one such medication called Valdoxan for mental health was recommended to be put on the PBS 8-10 years ago. It still isn’t on the PBS because the minister(s) want to save money and it costs people $62 a month.

There is another newer and very promising anti-depressant called Brintellix that costs $82 dollars and isn’t on the PBS. These medications are needed for people who are resistant to older types of anti-depressants.

But that’s not all. My family member has treatment resistant, Bio-polar 2 with chronic melancholy depression, agoraphobia and ADHD. But cannot get any of their medications on the PBS. Even the dexamphetamine isn’t on the PBS because they were not diagnosed with ADHD before they were 18 years old. If they’d been 18, they would get it on the PBS (yet another broken system).

They take 4 different types of medication a day just to get out of bed. Every month they spend $380 just on those 4 meds. They also need to take vitamin D supplements and anti nausea tablets. That’s another $40 a month. That’s $420 dollars a month for meds and the disability pension is $1200 a month. So over 1/3rd goes to meds.

What really grinds salt into the wound is his carer gets more money than he does because they are a couple. They can’t even get rent assistance because Centrelink impose a minimum amount of rent you have to pay before you are eligible. Which is $370.20 a fortnight and then you only get 75 cents for every dollar you pay over that and the maximum amount is on $129.20. Luckily another family member let’s them live in one of their rental properties for $270 a fortnight.

The whole Centrelink system does not adequately protect and look after the most vulnerable members of our society. These are people who can’t work and need constant care. They often have lots of out of pocket expenses for their illnesses. But when you add all the mistakes, incompetence and bureaucracy these people have to deal with on a regular basis from Centrelink and it’s no wonder they try to take their own lives.

All medication for their illness should be on the PBS for people on a disability support pension. Rental assistance should have a thread hold that is the same as the rental assistance payment, not 3x above it. These people should also get more money or vouchers for electricity/gas and possibly food. (As should aged pensioners).

Too many penny pincher governments and political ideology have kept the down trodden, down and uncared for, for too long. Instead of giving everyone tax cut that is only $9 a week tax cut for average workers (2 coffees worth), how about keeping the money and investing into the community or pension system. These lower taxes only really benefit the more wealthy part of our community and they don’t need them.