By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Home-invasion victim Noelene Nolan fears a long, fruitless wait as Centrelink re-assesses its support of her.
The 42-year-old of Hampton Park uses a walker due to crippling back, foot and knee conditions.
According to a medical specialist, Ms Nolan cannot sit down for more than 10 minutes at a time.
She is being given Commonwealth disability funding for shower railings and her walker.
Yet she says she is being denied a disability pension and instead being hassled to work at least 15 hours a week in a call centre, retail outlet or office, as far away as Broadmeadows.
In the meantime, she remains traumatised from being assaulted by groups of youths as they ransacked her Somerville Road home in April and July.
The intruders, who stole medications, Ms Nolan’s engagement ring and wedding photos of her late parents, have not been caught.
Since Star News reported Ms Nolan’s plight on 23 November, Centrelink’s critical response unit has asked her to re-apply for the disability support pension.
Ms Nolan says she has chased down further medical evidence to buttress her case for the pension. She has yet another telephone interview with Centrelink on 7 December, which is then “escalated” for assessment.
“This will be the fourth time that I have been through all of this.
“I don’t think they appreciate me repeatedly putting in applications … I’m not going away.”
According to Centrelink’s criteria, Ms Nolan must have a diagnosed disability that has stabilised and not improved over two years.
Ms Nolan has written medical advice that she has at least four such diagnosed conditions.
“Just after talking to Centrelink today, I think they’re going to reject me again.
“They said they will consider my plantar fasciitis, bursitis in both knees, severe osteoarthritis, chronic pain syndrome, severe and chronic asthma and microvascular ischaemia.
“Isn’t that enough fully diagnosed, treated and stabilised conditions for them?”
A Department of Human Services spokeswoman said the department would get in touch with Ms Nolan to “ensure they are appropriately supported”.
She said the department couldn’t comment specifically on Ms Nolan’s case due to privacy laws.
“A person can … lodge a new claim for (a disability support pension) if their circumstances change.
“If a condition deteriorates, or someone has new medical evidence, they should provide that information to the Department so we can assess the most suitable support for their circumstances.”
