Department of Human Resoures There are payments and services available to help you if you have an illness, injury or a disability. There is also support to assist your family or carer. Disability Support Pension (DSP) You may get Disability Support Pension if you are unable to work for 2 years because of illness, injury or disability, or if you are permanently You must be aged 16 or over but under age pension age at date of claim lodgement, and must have a physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment assessed at 20 points or more under impairment tables, and inability, as a result of impairment, to work for 15 hours or more per week for the next two years, and inability, as a result of impairment, to undertake a training activity would equip the person for work within the next two years, or be permanently blind ......................................... Tick the box and record the date when you have completed this section. Youth Disability Supplement If you receive a Disability Support Pension and you are under 21, you will automatically receive the Youth Disability Supplement in your Disability Support Pension payment. If you are receiving Allowance or ABSTUDY, you: • must have an illness, injury, or disability that prevents you from working for 30 or more hours a week and that is expected to last for more than two years, and • must have an employment services assessment PAGE 11
Mobility Allowance assists you, when your’re involved in qualifying activities including looking for work or any combination of paid employment, voluntary work, vocational training and independent living or life skills training and cannot use public transport without substantial assistance. You may be eligible for Mobility Allowance if you: • are aged 16 or over, and • cannot use public transport without substantial assistance, and • need to travel to and from home when you are looking for work, work or training. Note: You can still qualify for Mobility Allowance if there is no public transport where you live Centrelink recently announced that transport funding for NDIS participants will be covered under their NDIS plan, instead of Mobility Allowance. Forms: Claim for Mobility Allowance Medical Report Mobility Allowance ......................................... Tick the box and record the date when you have completed this section. Pensioner Education supplement (PES) The Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) can help you with the costs of full- time or part-time study You may be eligible for Pensioner Education Supplement or ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement if you are receiving a DSP from Centrelink PAGE 12
If you have permanent and severe incontinence, the Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) may help you meet some of the costs of your incontinence products. Eligibility conditions apply. You can use your CAPS money to buy the products you need from your supplier of choice. To your doctor and you, or other health professional, need to complete an application form and send it to the Department of Human Services. They will advise you if you are eligible for the payment. ......................................... Tick the box and record the date when you have completed this section Pensioner Concession Card To get a Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) you must be receiving a pension such as the Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment (Single), or Carer Payment. Website: ......................................... Tick the box and record the date when you have completed this section PAGE 14
To get a Health Care Card you must be receiving a qualifying payment or be a Mobility Allowance customer who cannot get a Pensioner Concession Card Website: ......................................... Tick the box and record the date when you have completed this section Centrelink Express Plus Apps Express Plus mobile apps are a simple, fast, mobile way for you to do some of your business with Centrelink and give you more choices so you can manage your own records. There are mobile apps designed for seniors, students, job seekers and families. Website: PAGE 15
Advance Lump-Sum Payment You may be able to get paid an income support payment immediately, even if you’re not already receiving a Centrelink payment. The type of payment or assistance that you may be able to get will depend on your individual circumstances. If you already receive a Centrelink payment, you may be able to receive an advance lump-sum payment from your existing payment. Carer Adjustment Payment This is a payment that helps your family deal with the increased care needs of a child aged under seven years who has had a sudden accident. Pension Loans Scheme This can help you if your capital is tied up in assets and you need more income to live on. You can also apply for early release of your superannuation on specific compassionate grounds or if you’re in severe financial hardship. Special Benefit This helps if you’re in severe financial hardship because of reasons outside your control and you cannot receive any other income support payment or benefit. Child Disability Assistance Payment This is paid annually to help your family with the costs of caring for a child with a disability. Crisis Payment This is a one-off payment if you’re experiencing difficult or extreme circumstances. Special Disability Trusts Established by parents and immediate family members to plan for the future care and accommodation needs of a person with a severe disability. PAGE 17
Disability Services provides young people leaving school and their families with information and support to assist with their transition from school to adult life. A range of supports, including mainstream and funded, are available for when you leave school. These supports can assist you to access your local community and enhance your relationships, skills and networks. Disability Services can assist you to explore the options available in your community that may be of assistance after school and meet your needs. You will be required to participate in a Assessment with Disability Services. This will determine your eligibility as well as capturing all your current needs. Disability Services will use this information to determine whether you will be considered for support. You can make contact with service providers and determine offers a program or approach to supports that best meet your individual needs and goals. Service providers are aware that I may not know my funding allocation, if any, at the time of my enquiry. Service providers are still able to tell me what supports and models they provide. 13 QGOV (13 74 68) Website: P2P can support school leavers to develop a Junior P.A.T.H to identify future and how to achieve them. ......................................... Tick the box and record the date when you have completed this section PAGE 20
The card is issued in your name and is valid for 5 years. It gives you as a cardholder freedom to go to different places with different people. Your companion may be a partner, family member, and friend, volunteer or paid carer assistant. You present your card when purchasing tickets at participating businesses and you are issued with a second ticket for your companion at no charge. Phone: 13 QGOV (13 74 68) ......................................... Website: Tick the box and record the date when you have completed this section Carer Business Discount Card This Card recognises and supports carers by providing discounts on goods and services at participating businesses throughout Queensland. To be eligible your carer must be a resident of Queensland and receive the Centrelink Carer Payment or Carer Allowance. Applications may be made online or by using a download application ......................................... Website: Tick the box and record the date when you have completed this section PAGE 22
Vehicle Options Subsidy Scheme (VOSS) This scheme aims to improve your independence and support you to have greater participation in your community. If you’re eligible, VOSS will benefit you and your family and carers by improving access to private transport and will subsidise the cost of: a detailed assessment of vehicle modification requirements with a recommendation for the best solution vehicle modifications, the purchase of an already modified vehicle or a vehicle to be modified specifically to match identified needs lessons to learn to drive the modified car Phone: 07 3136 3636 | 1300 443 570 Email: Website: ......................................... Tick the box and record the date when you have completed this section Spectacle Supply Scheme (SSS) Provides eligible Queensland residents with a pair of prescription spectacles, once every two years, including basic frames, lens and lens treatments. Queensland Artificial Limb Service (QALS) QALS is an administration service which coordinates the distribution of funds available under the Queensland Government’s ‘free limbs scheme’ to eligible residents of Queensland. Funding is provided on the understanding that clients wear and use their prosthetic limbs at their own risk. QALS facilitates the funding of basic prosthetic needs through a network of government contracted private manufacturers and clinical assessments through public hospital outpatient amputee clinics. PAGE 24
NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS (NGO’s) Specialist disability services aim to support you to live as independently as possible. Access to services provided and funded by the Department of Communities Disability Services is determined through a comprehensive process to cover your pathway through contact, assessment, prioritisation and linking to services. The Human Services Quality Framework (HSQF) contains 8 Service Standards. The purpose of these standards is to ensure that you receive quality services, and that your rights are acknowledged by service providers. As a service user you can make suggestions on how you would like to give input to the services you receive, and expect such opportunities to be provided by the service provider. Phone: 1800 177 120 Website: ......................................... Tick the box and record the date when LIFE TEC QUEENSLAND LifeTec Queensland is a leading provider of information, consultation, and education on assistive technology that can help you improve your quality of life and remain independent. In partnership with a range of complementary organisations, LifeTec Queensland provides advice on the range of available solutions regardless of a person’s age or level of ability. Their health professionals can assist you to maximise your independence and your ......................................... ability to manage everyday tasks whether in the home, workplace, or out in the community. 1300 885 886 Website; Tick the box and record the date when you have completed this section PAGE 27
Disability Employment Services providers offer a range of services to support your individual needs, including: help to prepare for work, including training in specific job skills job-search support, such as résumé development, training in interview skills, and help in looking for suitable jobs support when initially placed into a job, including on-the-job training and co- worker and employer support ongoing support in a job if required the purchase of vocational training and other employment-related assistance access to help with workplace modifications; support services; and Auslan interpreting in the workplace There are 2 types of Disability Employment Services. Disability Management Service Employment Support Service This service is for people with disability, illness, or injury who need the help of an employment service but do not expect to need long-term support in the workplace. This service is for people with a permanent disability and with an assessed need for longer term, regular, ongoing support in the workplace. Phone: 13 2850 | General Enquiries Website: employment-services PAGE 33
Contracted by the Australian Government to provide one-stop for those seeking to hire you as an Australian Apprentice or for you to take up an Australian Apprenticeship as a career path. Australian Apprenticeships Centres: Provide assistance to employers, Australian Apprentices and training providers throughout the duration of the Australian Apprenticeship Market and promote Australian Apprenticeships in the local area Administer incentive payments to employers and personal benefits to Australian Apprentices Work with the State and Territory Training Authorities to provide an integrated service Establish effective relationships with Job Services Australia providers, Group Training Organisations, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), schools and community organisations Australian Apprenticeships Centres provide information, administration services and support to your employer and me. They assist with the signing of training contracts and also, assess, approve and process the payment of Australian Government incentives to eligible employers, and personal benefits to me if you are eligible Australian Apprentices specifically to assist you in the early years of my Australian Apprenticeship when your wages are generally at their lowest. Phone: 13 38 73 | 300 sites across Australia Website: ......................................... Tick the box and record the date when you have completed this section. PAGE 36
Parent to Parent Association Queensland like to acknowledge BigDog Support Services Pty Ltd Toowoomba, Gladstone Rosella Park Special School and NDCO area 20 for their significant contribution to this publication. BigDog Support Services Rosella Park Special School 20 Park Street Gladstone QLD 4680 Phone: +61 7 4976 8333 232 Ruthven Street Toowoomba QLD 4350 PO Box 234 Harlaxton QLD 4350 Phone: 1800 A BIGDOG | 1800 22 44 36 Website: Email: National Disability Coordination Officer Debbie Rooskov Region 20 – Moreton, Darling Downs, South-West Queensland +61 7 5458 3063 PAGE 43