Disability pensioners claim they have been discriminated against by the federal government in its response to the coronavirus pandemic, with one young Sydney man saying he is on the verge of homelessness.
Brendan Brest, 22, says he can barely survive on the disability support pension after losing his job because of the COVID-19 crisis.Brendan Brest, 22, who lives with a mental health disability, said he worked his way up from a life on the streets to living in transitional housing, with a view to moving into private, shared accommodation.
After earning up to $1000 a fortnight with his pension and wage combined, he is now on half that after his community housing provider deducts the rent from the government payment.Minus his living expenses, such as food, medication, internet and phone bill, Mr Brest said he wouldn't have enough to catch the train to work if he still had a job.Pam Barker, CEO of youth homelessness charity YFoundations, said a lot of people on the disability pension used employment to supplement their incomes.
An open letter penned by Disabled People's Organisations Australia and endorsed by more than 70 organisations said the disability pension was inadequate support during the crisis.