A Springwood man has had his National Disability Insurance Scheme funding increased by tenfold after the Gazette revealed his plight.
Despite being deaf-blind, paralysed and recently diagnosed with throat cancer, David Jaye was receiving only six hours care a week under his NDIS plan.
But he was informed on Friday he will now qualify for up to 60 hours care per week after a review of his case – two days after the Gazette published his story. Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman also lobbied on Mr Jaye’s behalf after reading about his case.
Bullaburra resident Matt Ranson, who along with his wife Kylie, has been caring for the 49-year-old, said “he’s funded now the way he should have been funded 12 months ago”.
“They’ve allocated enough funding for multiple people for up to 60 hours per week. It’s changed his life basically,” he said.
Susan Templeman welcomed the outcome but said “there are far too many people who are being disadvantaged by the system that’s in place”.
“They shouldn’t be forced to make public their plight in order to be given the right amount of support.
“What this result shows is that it’s worth fighting something that is unfair and my office is happy to help anyone who feels they are getting unjust treatment from the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency).”