Disability Pension

Not asking for myself LOL.

My mum is nearly 60 and is about to have major knee surgery in the next couple of weeks. Not that it will impair her work any as she works with her hands from home.

But come March she will be having carpal tunnel surgery and something else done on her wrist. She has already been told by the surgeon that will do her wrist that there is a good chance she may never be able to work again. She is a small business owner who works from home, as has done so for the last 24 years.

I mentioned that maybe she could look into a disability pension, but all I could find on the centrelink site was a disability support pension and from the sounds of it, it was only temporary and she would have to look for work again. Not really something she wants to do at the age of 60.

Her husband (my step-father) works full time, but earns under $50,000 a year.

Does anyone know what she could be entitled to if she does end up never being able to work again.

She is going to and speak to them herself when it gets closer to the time, but wants to know what she is talking about, as she has never dealt with centrelink.

DSP is for a condition that lasts 2 years or more. It all depends on Dr's reports etc. Tell her to give them a call on Monday morning so they can suss it out. It gets a bit complicated!

the disability support pension is now set up so that it isn't "forever" once you're on it. before April 06 (i think) if you were assessed as being eligible for the disability pension, you could stay on it indefinitely unless you returned to work. now, they assess you, and you are termed to be incapacitated for a period of time (less than 6 months, longer than 2 years etc) - and you are reassessed periodically to ensure that you are on the most appropriate payment for you at that stage.

generally with older customers, they would take age and employability into it as well when reassessing the situation. all she can do is apply and see how she goes. if the surgeon is saying she will be unable to work in the future, he will provide the supporting documentation that she is significantly impaired kwim?

the rules changed as there were a lot of people who were abusing the "once you're on it, you're on it for life" rulings, working essentially full time but taking time off every few weeks so that they had a lesser income and kept their payment and associated bits and pieces (pension card etc for discounts). people are now assessed as being totally incapacitated (work less than 8 hours per week), incapacitated but able to work 8-15hours, or partially incapacitated but able to work up to 30hours per week. if it is a short term issue, you may be more likely to go on newstart or sickness benefits with an exclusion for job seeking obligations

hope that helps a bit

BG

Her partner's wage will definately be assessed, and if she qualifies for DSP the amounts she gets will be dependent on the couple's income.

In order to get a part pension, the couple's income must be less than $2274 per fortnight. (Best for them to check the income requirements direct with centrelink, but this is my understanding).