If you find yourself in need of a clear and transparent observation of non existent disability bludgers at work, call me for an immediate appointment, anytime, any day.

"Think laterally. People with vision impairments have worked extremely effectively in call centres because of their reliance on sound cues. Understand the unique strengths of people with a disability, and find opportunities."

I've picked this out as I know several people who are what they themselves refer to as being on the "blind pension."

One of them worked for many years on a help desk and did very well at until they're ability to "suffer fools asking ridiculous questions" made them decide that it was easier to sit back on the pension, even though for a person considered legally blind, you can earn as much as you want while the tax-payer's funded pension keeps rolling in. Yes, that's right! Under the current system, a recipient of a vision impaired pension can earn any amount without ever loosing the pension.

To reiterate, another blind person I know of earns over $100,000 a year and still retains the pension, but not so with other pension recipients. A recent change to legislation now means that for anybody else on a disability pension, once they work for a certain length of time, then they loose the right to go back onto a pension should they become ill some time in the future as a complication or extension of the former disability. In the case of mental illness, this situation is a common occurrence and from working in the field, I know of several people who had begun training for a degree or certificate only to purposefully "throw" the exams and fail since they didn't want to be forced into work where the only default position following a relapse of their illness was sickness benefits complete with the lower income rate not to mention the mindless, cruel and degrading hoops they'd have to endure through Centerstink (sic).

Cont:

Surely the Government must be able to reason that while the former pension recipient is working, they're also paying taxes and of course there's always the chance that they won't relapse and continue paying taxes. People, forced by fear of loosing the pension forever, have no incentive to try to life themselves out of their particular rut. To do so will, in all probability, result in finding themselves in a worse position.

<Sensible debate about the Disability Support Pension (DSP) can get lost in sensationalism. Inevitably when the issue gets a higher profile in the media, so too will stories of “pension cheats” and alarmist portrayals of the rise in the number of people on DSP.

Many arguments used to justify a crackdown on disability pensions are false or misleading. Myths like it is easy to get, that numbers of people on DSP are out of control and that it is for people who do not want to work are simply untrue.>
Andrew McCallum, Disability Support Pensions: the myths and the facts
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=3030

Nothing has changed, the wedge politics that singles out various vulnerable groups in society to be blamed is more popular than ever and feeds the shock jocks and tabloid media. As if someone with (say) a severe mental disorder or crippling arthritis is enjoying life and seeking to abuse the system.

A legal perspective,
http://www.lawfoundation.net.au/ljf/app/ADD8D0AC0CF007B6CA25718E000758CC.html

I can't imagine anyone sitting back on the pension and enjoying them-self can you.

I can't imagine anyone sitting back on the pension and enjoying them-self can you.
579,
you're right on that one !