Pension
My Husband was on a Disability Pension when we Married in 1983
In 2005 he spent 5 Months in Hospital, due to a Doctor prescribing a Heart drug that he should not have taken because he was Asthmatic. He was hospitalised and was given 2 other drugs that should not have been given with the first Tablet and almost died, after 3 months he spent 10 days in Intensive care where they finally discovered the problem, after he went from 135 Kilos to 87 kilos, Damaged his Heart, lungs, kidneys, vocal chords, cellulitis, and return of healed skingrafted ulcer on his leg. He spent a month in Rehabilitation learning to Walk, and talk.
I became his carer.
Then he broke his hip another month in Rehab.
I have been on the wives pension since 1983, worked a small part time job, and been a carer,
My Husband received a Disability support pension + Mobility Allowance, and for 6 months from June 2009 to December 2009 Worked in a sheltered workshop.
In October 2009 My Husband was fitted with a Pacemaker due to the damage to his heart, and also an ablation to the top of his heart.
In December 2009 my husband died suddenly, of a massave heart attack ???? the Coroner has not been able to complete an inquest due to a large backlog.
Finally were I am going..... I received a wives pension until March 2010, plus $2,000 bearevement allowance, then my pension was cut by $236 per Fortnight, and I lost my Pension card, because I was 59, when I turned 60 they gave me back my pension card.
I am on a widows allowance which I would not have received If I had not been a carer for my husband, it is very difficult on this amount less than 1/3 of what we were receiving together.
I have to stay on this allowance 5 years until I am 65..
A friend who is on the aged pension was thrown out by his much younger wife, and suggested we could get married,
No impossible There is no longer a wives pension I would get Newstart, no consession card
and less money until 65.
We could live together in my Housing commission house, and pay extra rent, but then centerlink would count us as a couple and I would still be changed to newstart, we can't even help each other.
Meanwhile I struggle to make ends meet, he lives in a friends Garage, and he eats some nights with me and we share the cost of food.
It is a big struggle for most pensioners very difficult a a time when you loose your husband, your grieving and finding it very hard. A single pension,would make life a lot easier.
Or should we live together and stay as we are and run the risk of being fined or Jailed,
It just isn't worth the risk !
Hi Lynnaire, The system is very unfair, but their is not a lot that can be done.
National Seniors has been discussing the Widows Allowance with the Minister,
for the last 12 months, but getting nowhere. It is not possible to move the
Government position, unless the effected people are prepared to vote as one,
& they wont. It is not a big difference, but when the system has you beat, you
must play the system. I presume that your friend is married to a Philipino or
Thai & that he is not divorced yet? I also presume that you are in a Housing
Commission home in NSW. If so, now that you are on your own, it is only a
matter of time before they will be attempting to move you into aged accomodation
or a uiit. What you should do is move your friend in, to rent your spare bedroom
for $105 P/W & declare it to the Commission. That is probably less than he is
paying for his garage. Your rent will be increased by $26.25 P/W, but you will be
getting an extra $105 P/W & your friend will be receiving rental allowance of
approx. $50 P/W. It is important that you submit the sub lease to the Housing
Commission, for approval, before you make any move.