By NICOLE VALICEK
A FATHER who has expressed his disgust at the massive fee increases faced by Victorians living in state-run residential units has called it a mean, nasty penny-pinching act.
Werribee father Stephen Lennon said his son Declan, who stays in residential care in Altona part-time, will not be able to afford basic necessities with the Government increases set to take 75 per cent of his pension.
The 2013 Federal Government State Budget has revealed that a fee increase paid by those already living in Department of Human Services (DHS) managed disability accommodation services will be used to fund expansion individual support packages (ISPs).
Mr Lennon said Declan, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) uses more than half of his pension (56 per cent) on accommodation, food and utilities.
The proposed fee cuts would take 75 per cent of his pensions just for accommodation, which would leave Declan with $40 dollars a day.
“It’s just dirty money-pinching nasty stuff,” he said.
Member for Altona Jill Hennessy and Member for Tarneit Tim Pallas have also expressed disgust at the massive fee increases.
Ms Hennessy said the $44 million fee increases, which would be 50 per cent or over were going to make supported accommodation unaffordable for residents across Altona and Tarneit.
“Many people who were hoping to stay in supported accommodation, or were hoping to apply for supported accommodation in the future, simply won’t be able to afford it.”
Mr Lennon said he and his wife are both on a pension and will be left to make up the difference of $5000-$6000 a year, money they don’t have.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen to Declan, we will continue to support him financially to the ability we can, and it’s not going to be a lot when we’re on a pension ourselves.”
Declan goes to an educational facility five days a week, enjoys going to the gym, on special outings and to camps.
Mr Lennon said with the increases he will struggle to afford basic necessities such as a taxi to and from hospital and doctors appointments and the extra benefits he enjoys.
“All of those things will be cut off from him under him.”
“He’s going to have no life at all. He would be in the house 24 hours a day seven days a week, there would be no money to take him out.”
A government spokesperson said the introduction of the new model from 1 December 2013 will ensure fees charged in DHS run disability residential services are consistent across locations and comparable to those already operating in community sector-provided disability accommodation.
According to the spokesperson, the new fees will bring the average contribution per resident for supported accommodation to approximately $17,500 per annum.
The average cost to Government to support a resident in DHS-managed supported accommodation will be $128,000 per annum.
The spokesperson said most residents receive a funding package of up to $25,000 per annum to attend day programs.
