WINZ agenda

SERVICE CENTRE MANAGERS

pulling a tricky-dicky out of his hat

TRICKY STUFF UPON THE UNWARY

It is the intention of Service Centre Managers to mislead and confuse disabled persons in respect of their entitlements. This is part of their job. They are mercenary in their approach to anyone whom they perceive as receiving too much assistance, or, as in most cases, anyone who is trying to obtain assistance over and above the meagre basic benefit. Their willingness to prevent or cancel an existing supplement without a change of circumstances - no matter how essential the assistance - is a position requirement. This is the major reason for their being appointed to this senior position.

Untold lives have been affected. Many have lost their health. Families have been torn apart. All because Work and Income bosses refuse to apply legislation as the legislators intended. They are not pro-active in granting assistance to the needy - which was a promise given by Mr Maharey a Labour Minister of Health.

Use of the telephone to achieve WINZ dirty work is high on its priority of weapons to attack the disadvantaged. No wonder it is recorded internationally that New Zealand has the worst record in the western world in treating and taking care of its sick.

PAST EXPERIENCE

On the 23rd of April 1998, it was determined by the Social Security Appeal Authority that my wife had lost her independent function due to Residual Schizophrenia (chronic lack of motivation) and was declared a disabled person under 69C of the Social Security Act 1964.

The Judge awarded the Sheryl 54kms a week travel costs to visit her 97 year old father who lived in Wellington. The Appeal Authority also awarded Sheryl other transport disability costs. This enabled me to provide in-home treatment for her. (Although the allowable cost is 42 cents a km Work and Income only pay 30% of that 42cents, about 12.6 cents a km)

In 2004 Work and Income had appointed the Service Centre Manager of the Fielding branch, as my wife's case Manager. I had never met her. One evening around 6pm she telephoned our home. Her manner was overbearing and quite frankly, arrogant.

I wrote to the CEO and laid a complaint and requesting that the practice cease. Thankfully it did. But not before all my wife's medical and judiciary approved transport cost were canceled without notice and without a change of circumstances.

Chronically ill invalid terrified that a WINZ Service Centre

Manager will remove her disability allowances ruled as an allowable cost by a judge

These are the weekly transport activities allowed by the Social Security Appeal Authority.

a.    Transport to visit a relative or friend of her choice

b.    Transport to a recreational facility.

c.    Transport to buy clothing.

d.    Transport (drives) for the purpose of relaxation.

e.    Transport to buy groceries.

f.    Transport to chemist.

Shortly afterward, for economic reasons we moved to the Horowhenua.

Our sole income is the Married rate of invalids benefit and underwent an annual Invalid Benefit Review each year for the next five years.

Everything was fine. Sheryl was receiving the treatment needed to keep her reasonably stable. In 2004, Jill Tait (Jill Topia) the Feilding Service Centre Manager, decided that she would take over as our Case Manager.

On 21 August 2004 last, Sheryl's Invalids Benefit was due for its annual review. As usual her medical Practitioner stated on the WINZ Disability Certificate that the Transport-disability allowances were still necessary and of therapeutic value for Sheryl's disability of Residual Schizophrenia - Burn out – loss of independent function.

It was expected to be a mere formality that the transport-disability costs would remain as in previous years. However, Work and Income, without warning, wrote to Sheryl on the 15 September 2004, to say that ALL her transport-disability costs were cancelled from that day.

Work and Income NZ also thought it appropriate to over-rule another judicial decision. This ruling allowed Sheryl $29 a month toward Telecom's 'Favorite Places' rental plan which enabled Sheryl to telephone her 103 year old father during off peak hours and talk with him for as long as she liked. Now, Sheryl was unable to telephone her dad almost every night as she did before. Both would miss out on the opportunity to speak to each other on a regular basis.

Sheryl was aware that her father's time was running out, and was trying to come to terms with the fact that she will no longer be able to visit her centenarian dad as often as before - thanks to the Service Centre Manager at Feilding Work and Income NZ.

Another interesting aspect of this story is that Sheryl's current renewal date was 21 August 2004. However, Work and Income New Zealand waited 25 days after the Benefit renewal date before informing Sheryl that it had cancelled all her transport-disability allowances (except travel to her doctor) and Telecom's Favourite Places allowance. And that the cancellations were to take effect on 15th September 04 - Sheryl's 60th birthday.

It has been discovered to the writer that cancellation of essential assistance is often activated on a beneficiaries birthday. It probably gives WINZ bosses and staff a bit of a laugh.

This type of deception is common place. You would be well advised to hang your phone up the moment a Work and Income Employee, especially a ServicCentre Manager telephones you out of the blue, you can guarantee the caller is about to tricky-dick you in order to cancel assistance already approved, and without any change of your circumstances. Or, as in our case do everything possible to deny an entitlement to further assistance. I wrote to the CEO requesting that no WINZ. employee is to phone our home unless invited. None have - so far.

The person you contact when you are harassed by Work and Income Service Centre Managers, via the telephone is:

CEO
Ministry of Social Development
P.O. Box 12 136 Wellington. And/or

Office of the Ombudsmen
70 The Terrace
P.O. Box 101 52
Wellington

david.taylor1@clear.net.nz