Australian Federation of Disability Organisations

Announcement:
Additional financial assistance for people on the Aged Pension and Disability Support Pension - Making Ends Meet

Date of announcement:
1 November 2007

Detail:
“Eligible Australians will benefit from four key elements of Making Ends Meet. They are:

• Increased Utilities Allowance paid quarterly, rather than biannually; making the increased Utilities Allowance as regular as utility bills;

• $50 million to establish A National Reciprocal Public Transport Entitlement to ensure State Government Senior’s Card holders can travel at concessional rates anywhere in Australia;

• Increased Telephone Allowance by 50 per cent – from $88 to $132 a year - to help with the cost of an internet connection at home; and

• Establish a Seniors’ Internet Fund to provide grants of up to $10,000 for 2000 eligible community organisations to set up free internet connections for their members.”

Announcement:
Review of Job Capacity Assessments

Date of Announcement:
23 November 2007

Detail:
“There have been many concerns raised about the efficacy of this process, including the appropriateness of the qualifications required of Job Capacity Assessors and the guidelines for Job Capacity Assessments, which, among other weaknesses, are believed by advocates to discourage referrals to appropriate specialists.

Given that this is the tool that determines a person’s level of income support and level of assistance, Labor believes it is essential that this assessment process is reviewed and its flaws remedied.”