By Alesha Capone
Werribee resident Bill Hillis says he’s been battling Centrelink for four years to get a disability allowance.
The 53-year-old, who suffers from epilepsy, has been unable to work since he was diagnosed.
His driver’s licence was cancelled and because of his medication, he is not permitted to operate heavy machinery or use power tools.
Mr Hillis says looking at a computer screen can cause him to have a seizure.
He has letters from his GP and an epilepsy clinic, stating he cannot work.
Yet he’s currently on the Newstart Allowance, which is for people seeking work.
Mr Hillis says Centrelink has repeatedly denied his requests to be transferred to a disability allowance.
He said last time he applied for the allowance, he was told he would be “put in the system” and to wait for an answer.
“But I’ve been in this battle for four years,” he said. He said even if he was able to find a job, he doubted an employer would want to keep on someone who regularly has seizures.
“I just want the government to pull their finger out and look after people properly, not kick us to the gutter,” Mr Hillis said.
A spokesperson from the Department of Human Services said the department “…does not have any discretion to grant payments outside the very strict eligibility criteria set out in legislation”.
The spokesperson said the department had contacted Mr Hillis to make sure he was “appropriately supported”.
