Social Security speak-out

Social Security speak-out

SYDNEY — A statewide phone-in for people who have hassles with the Department of Social Security will take place on Friday and Saturday, May 10 and 11.

The event is being organised by the Welfare Rights Centre, which helps people who have trouble getting the dole or whose payments mysteriously stop, who are rudely treated after queuing for hours of who receive threatening visits from DSS officers.

Evidence collected during the phone-in will be used by the centre to present the government and DSS with a comprehensive list of problems experienced by clients.

The Welfare Rights Centre says that "People who get social security should not have to accept long queues, tardy service, below-poverty-level payments, overly demanding or intrusive procedures, or systems which seem to hinder more than to help. DSS staff should not have to face the frustrations of clients which these problems create nor the understaffing and lack of resources which they put up with at the moment."

Interpreters in eight languages will be available at nominated times during the phone-in.

All callers are guaranteed anonymity. The data collected will be written up and used to seek improvements to the system.

Calls can be placed between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on both days. In Sydney, ring 267 2600; elsewhere in NSW, (008) 24 2695.

From GLW issue 11