Fairer deal for cancer sufferers

Centrelink says it will address how it deals with people who have cancer or terminal illnesses after the Commonwealth Ombudsman reported problems in the way it assesses their claims for financial support.Commonwealth Ombudsman John McMillan said the criteria for the disability support pension was being applied "in a rigid manner that is causing vulnerable members of the community to be unable to access the support they need at a traumatic time in their lives".In one case, Centrelink refused to pay sickness allowance to a man dying from cancer because he had set aside money to pay for his funeral and other debts.In another, it denied the disability pension to a woman with leukaemia because there was a chance she might recover.Mr McMillan has recommended a raft of changes to ensure people are treated better in the future.The report justifies concerns raised in the Mercury in February by Farmborough Heights' mother Debbie Leglise, who is recovering from an 18-month fight against breast cancer.She applied for the disability pension to avoid the regular paperwork needed by Centrelink for another benefit. But she said she was "treated like a criminal" and had her "integrity questioned" in having the application denied, mainly because her doctor could not specify exactly for how long she would be ill."Centrelink needs to realise there are good people out there ... who just want to work their way back up," she said.While her case is still being reviewed, Mrs Leglise yesterday welcomed the proposed changes to the system."It's great," she said. "I'm happy for everyone else who is going through this or will in the future."Federal Minister for Human Services Joe Ludwig welcomed the recommendations."Centrelink staff are sympathetic to customers' individual situations and do their best to find the most appropriate payment for their circumstances," he said."Centrelink will work closely with other government departments to address the recommendations to better support customers that are experiencing an acute or terminal illness."