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Counting the costs of blindness: lessons for a cost of disability allowance
Maryanne Diamond
Blind Citizens Australia
Contact Email: SallyR
pwd.org.au
Blind Citizens Australia is the national organisation of blind people. For many years the provision of a cost of disability allowance has been a key issue for our members and Blind Citizens Australia has lately undertaken research in this area.
The Government’s recently released consultation paper on simplifying the income support system includes a proposal for a cost of disability allowance, but provides little detail on how this might be paid.
People who are blind have received a non means tested pension since 1954. This has effectively meant that blind people who work or have a significant additional source of income are receiving a cost of disability allowance. This provides an opportunity to explore the impact a cost of disability allowance has on the social inclusion of people who are blind and to identify limits to its effectiveness in overcoming barriers to participation.
The presentation will explore conceptual issues related to a cost of disability allowance including the purpose of such a payment, the effect of participation on costs and the effectiveness and equity of various allowance models.
Utilising Blind Citizens Australia’s and other research, alternative models for a cost of disability allowance will be explored including a capped allowance and a tiered allowance system.
Paper
Download Information (if available):
Paper249.pdf
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