new fed welfare policies bite hard

The Commonwealth Ombudsman is investigating the Federal Government's new 'Welfare to Work system, saying he has found key areas of concern.

Ombudsman John McMillan cites a case where a woman's welfare payment was cancelled because she did not attend an interview, even though it was because she was having chemotherapy for leukaemia and had recently had surgery.

Mr McMillan says after his investigation Centrelink acknowledged it should have given her a medical exemption.

In another case a man with severe epilepsy was waiting in line at Centrelink when he suffered a seizure.

Paramedics were treating him when his name was called and explained his case, but when the man returned from hospital he had a letter from Centrelink saying his payment had been suspended because he failed to attend an interview.

Mr Mcmillan says these cases point to systemic issues that need investigation.

Dave R.