Financial and other assistance
Compensation
Approximately 25% of people with SCI in NSW receive compensation for their injury.
People undertaking legal action must choose their solicitor carefully. The Law Society of NSW provides a list of Accredited Personal Injury Specialists. Its Community Assistance Department can also give basic legal advice and refer to public agencies who may organise free or low cost legal assistance un der the Pro Bono Scheme.
It is important to ensure that the amount of compensation will cover the lifetime costs of living with a disability. Also it must include the repayable costs incurred prior to settlement. These include hospitalisation, rehabilitation, equipment and any government income support that has been paid.
In NSW, there is an option for people receiving compensation to choose a Structured Settlement. There are six fact sheets available at the Australian Tax Office, each providing appropriate information for injured people, defendants and their insurers, financial advisers, lawyers, life insurance companies as well as some Structured Settlement examples. Go to www.ato.gov.au and search for "structured settlement".
The New South Wales Motor Accidents Authority's Spinal Cord Injury Guidelines outline the ongoing care and other needs that people with varying levels of disability will require. However the lifetime costs of each person's needs will be different. A medico-legal assessment will set out the expected costs of personal care, equipment, transport and other essential supports.
People who are compensated for their disabilty may still be eligible to receive some of the government financial and practical assistance described below.
Income support
Financial help is available for people with a disability. A range of eligibility criteria are applied to the various programs.
Financial suppport: Centrelink provides a number of federal government programs.
The Disability Support Pension is paid to people who cannot work because of their disability. Eligibility is assessed according to assets, income and work ability. In the period before Disability Support Pension is paid, Sickness Benefit is payable.
If a person with disability is assessed as able to work but has not been able to find a job, he may be able to receive Newstart Allowance. While on Newstart he may be required to undertake vocational training activities.
Mobility Allowance is payable to people with disabilities to offset the cost of travelling to work, training, volunteering or job search activities. It is not means tested, but recipients must be involved in those activities 8 hours per week.
Holders of the Pensioner Concession Card and the Health Care Card are entitled to medicines at reduced cost as well as other concessions.
People with disabilities can purchase free of GST a vehicle that will be used to travel to work 8 hours per week. The GST exemption also applies to parts used to maintain the car. This program is administered by the Tax Office. Click here for more information.
The Continence Aids Assistance Scheme assists people who have permanent and ongoing incontinence to meet the cost of equipment. This federal government program is operated by Intouch, a division of PQ Lifestyles. Go to the Department of Health and Ageing for information and an application form.
Practical support
The state and territory governments provide a number of programs that offer housing, home modifications, personal care, home help, respite care, transport, and disability equipment. Most are not means tested, but priority and waiting lists force those who can pay for services to make "co-payments" or turn to commercial alternatives.
It is important that those in hospital with new injuries make applications for these services as early as possible. The hospital social worker should co-ordinate this process. Leaving hospital without the full range of services being in place can result in dislocation from the community, poor rehabilitation, pressure on families and forced returns to hospital.
The detail below relates to New South Wales, but similar programs operate in the other states and territories.
Housing and home modifications: Public housing is available to those who cannot afford accomodation on the private market. Accessible houses and apartments are made available, and modifications are made to others to make them accessible. Temporary assistance helps pay commercial rent for those waiting for public housing. Contact the Department of Housing.
Home and Community Care's (HACC) Home Maintenance and Modifications program assists people living in or returning to their private or rented home to make the modifications necessary to meet the needs of their disability. Contact 02 9367 6843.
Personal care, home help and respite care: The Home Care Service is the public provider of these services. It is a HACC program. There are also many private companies (contact SCInfo on 02 9661 8855 for a current listing).
People applying for Home Care services are assessed for their needs. There may be a fee-for-service, the amount of which is based on income and ability to pay.
Transport: Accessible public transport is available in Sydney, but many people with disabilities in rural areas and those who cannot use buses, trains and ferries still rely on taxis. For timetables and other information phone 131 500 or see www.131500.com.au.
In some parts of Sydney and in rural areas there can be long waiting times for an accessible taxi. The cost burden of taxi travel is offset by the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme, which pays 50% of the metered fare. The maximum subsidy per trip is $30. Reciprocal arrangements are in place with taxi subsidy schemes in the other states. For applications and more information contact the TTSS on 1800 623 724.
Community Transport, a HACC service, provides transport for people with disabilities to assist them with shopping, appointments and social activities. For providers in your area contact the Community Transport Organisation.
People with disabilities travelling in private vehicles can obtain a permit to allow parking in spaces for longer than signposted limitations and free at meters. The Mobility Parking Scheme is managed by the Roads and Traffic Authority (phone 13 22 13).
Equipment: Appropriate equipment is essential for independence, well-being and safety. The Program of Appliances for Disabled People scheme (PADP) is a Health Department program that provides a wide range of disability equipment for people with permanent or long term disabilities so they can continue to live at home.
The equipment must be prescribed by an occupational therapist.
If you are on a pension or your annual taxable income below a set amount, you should be able to get any item on the PADP equipment list.
THE IMPORTANT MESSAGE IS: IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY AND NEED EQUIPMENT, PADP SHOULD LOOK AFTER YOU!
If you want to know more about PADP ask the occupational therapist at your local hospital or community health centre, or contact SCInfo on 02 9661 8855.
Scholarships
ParaQuad NSW's Golden Stave Foundation offers scholarships to provide opportunities for young people under 25 with a spinal cord injury to undertake further study.
Click here for more information on the program.
There are three NRMA Insurance scholarships, each up to the value of $5,000, available for students in NSW who have an acquired spinal cord injury. They provide assistance for education at an accredited tertiary institution.To be eligible, applicants must:
- be an Australian citizen and a resident of NSW;
- have an acquired spinal cord injury;
- have a high level academic record;
- be eligible to gain entrance to an accredited tertiary institution, or be undertaking study at an accredited tertiary institution;
- demonstrate motivation and perseverance to achieve goals; and
- have the capacity for this course of study to lead to employment.
