Hi Norm
Sorry to hear about your wife’s strokes and the stress and difficulties you are having with your finances. It sounds Tough!
There are some services and support out there that may help
Please have a look at some of the information about legal and financial support, on our EnableMe website here,
Centrelink (132 717) may be able to help your wife because of her disability if she cannot work and look at any payments she may be eligible for"
If your wife receives payments from Centrelink, she may then be eligible for Concession and Health Care Cards which make it less expensive when she uses certain health care services or buys any prescription medicines. Concession cards also entitle her to discounts on rates and utilities, and on vehicle registration and public transport. Applications are managed by Centrelink, and eligibility will depend on your combined circumstances together.
As a result of your wife’s stroke, she may be eligible for an early release of superannuation. She can apply for early release on the grounds of severe financial hardship, or to meet the costs of medical treatment, transport expenses or home and vehicle modification expenses. She may also have disability insurance as part of your superannuation. Often to access Total Permanent Disability through superannuation it requires 2 x medical practitioners to sign this off.
It helps to get advice on all these issues from a financial counsellor or advisor.
Financial advisers provide advice and services on financial matters and will charge a fee.
Financial counsellors provide free information, support and advocacy to people in financial difficulty. You may find more information and a financial counsellor near you here.
There is also information on various helplines that may be useful such as:
National Debt Helpline: 1800 007 007
Financial Counselling | The Salvation Army Australia: 1800 722 363
The Medicare Safety Net provides a higher Medicare benefit for all eligible services for the rest of the calendar year once you reach the relevant threshold. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Safety Net works in a similar way, reducing the cost of prescription medicines once the threshold has been reached. Make sure to ask your wife’s pharmacist about generic medicines, which will help keep costs down.
Your wife’s doctor may suggest a Chronic Disease GP Management Plan, which entitles her to a number of subsidized sessions with health professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and psychologists.
The NDIS (1800 800 110) helps Australians under the age of 65 who have a permanent and significant disability to achieve their goals and enjoy an ordinary life. As well as reasonable and necessary funded supports, the NDIS helps people with a disability, their family and carers to access health, education and other government and community services and supports.
My Aged Care (1800 200 422) is a national website and phone service that can help you navigate the aged care system and find support. This includes support to live independently at home, short term or respite care, and aged care homes. My Aged Care will assess your eligibility over the phone or face-to-face, work with you to develop a support plan, give you information about costs, and help you find services in your area.
If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to call us at StrokeLine on 1800 787 653
Wishing you the best,
The Strokeline team
