Struggle for the aged pension in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Aged pensioners in the Hunter are being forced to live without an income for months on end as they wait for aged pension applications to be approved.

A backlog of Centrelink claims is creating the wait period and Human Services Minister Alan Tudge is being called upon to explain just how large the backlog is and how long aged pension applicants will have to go without income.

Some are able to live on savings but many don't have savings. They have to rely on family or charity for day-to-day expenses.

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson says her office receives call after call from people who have been waiting up to six months for their aged pension applications to be approved.

"This government has made such savage cuts that we're now seeing some of our most vulnerable people having to wait months for something that they are entitled to; they've paid their taxes their whole life and now they're being told you have to wait over six months for a pension. It really isn't good enough."

This latest error follows a backlog which saw students who applied for Abstudy and Youth Allowance wait months to be processed.

Pension Concerns

HUNTER residents are concerned after indications the Federal Government could change the age pension in the upcoming May budget

The Government is prioritizing the proposed paid parental leave scheme, costing taxpayers about 5-point-5 billion dollars each year


Shortland MP Jill Hall says if there are cuts to the pension, elderly residents could suffer

"It's mean that they'll have difficulty paying their bills, they'll have trouble buying food that they need it'll mean that their life is a lot harder than it is now. Without their continued efforts, without recognizing the work that they do, Australia would be a much poorer place than it is now," Mrs Hall said.

The federal budget is due next month