The NDIS is not working

and it is time for a complete overhaul or an even more drastic complete scrapping.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme started out with the best of intentions. It was meant to be certainty that the basic needs of people with disabilities would be met. It no longer does that.

I know a woman with Down Syndrome. Her sister is her legal guardian and has Power of Attorney over this woman's affairs. The woman herself gets a pension for which she "works" at a centre for people with disabilities. This woman can read and write at a basic level. She lives in a tiny unit which she keeps spotlessly neat and clean. Yes, she is a "success" story but she is still vulnerable and someone, in this case her sister, needs to keep an eye on her affairs. Recently the centre management tried to take over this woman's affairs. She was called in to the office and asked to sign some forms which would have given the centre control over her financial affairs. One of the consequences was to be told she would need to move into a "group" house "because we (management) will be paying all your bills now". This is what alerted her sister to what was going on.

The resultant mess has taken some time to sort out. It has taken her sister many hours to do with some help from me.The centre made all sorts of excuses but the reality is they wanted control because there is money to be made out of having control. I made some inquiries of other people who are "working" there and yes, they have all been asked to effectively sign over their financial affairs so the centre has control. Those who have guardians or interested family or friends now have someone looking into the situation. The centre is running at a loss but those running it are getting and excellent income. 

There is too much of this sort of thing going on. It will always go on but not enough is being done to investigate it. The entire scheme has been seen as a means of making money by some. However much it is denied the fraud element is high.

There are far too many people receiving benefits for things which are not needed. The Down Syndrome woman was paying for a "cleaning service". She does her own cleaning. She is paying rent and the rent is reasonable. Her landlord is happy with her, indeed told me he wished the other tenants were as good as she is. The idea she might move into a group house and share a bedroom left him shaking his head.  "Making money out of that," was his comment.

The matter is now resolved after a fashion. There may or may not be consequences for those in charge of the centre. They will almost certainly argue "mistakes with paper work" and "this is what she said she wanted" and "we have to do what we believe is best for the client" if the matter goes any further. My guess is they will be given a warning and nothing will be done. It is much easier not to do anything.

This is why it is also easier to allow people to go on receiving benefits for services they do not need, perhaps should never have received. Arguing with them and cutting their benefits is just too much effort. It is all being paid for by other people's taxes.

The entire system needs to be rethought. I suspect I could go in and that my friend S... could go in and cut expenditure by half. It would leave some unhappy people who believe they have a "right" to some services but it might leave money for people who need help and are not getting it.