Disability case earns MSD stern rebuke

A man with an unsightly skin condition, who was denied specialist medical funding and face-to-face contact with the Ministry of Social Development, has earned the department sharp criticism.

The man, who sought welfare for issues related to his condition, was trespassed from Work and Income offices and deemed by Ministry of Social Development (MSD) staffers not to require regular medical appointments. He appealed to the Social Security Appeal Authority, which instructed the ministry to accept medical evidence and deal directly with the client in December but it failed to act.

The authority has now rebuked MSD for withholding support and exacerbating the man’s ‘‘parlous state’’. ‘‘The ministry has adopted an intransigent strategy of not only withholding support but electing not to provide the dignity of face-to-face communication with [the client].’’

The man, whose name is suppressed, was in good health and in skilled work when he developed three unpleasant and unsightly skin conditions about 20 years ago. The condition and its social implication caused him to lose his self-worth, and he developed a severe mental illness.

‘‘We are concerned with a man whose life has spiralled downward in a manner that has caused stress to him ... it has caused stress to the community due to him acting out to the extent he has been imprisoned as a result,’’ the authority said.

His condition compromised his ability to undertake MSD’s process for verifying his medical condition. ‘‘We are satisfied [the client] has clear and present medical needs that flow from his disability.’’

The man’s mental health contributed to tense dealings with MSD staff. He was eventually trespassed from Work and Income offices and was compelled to deal with its remote-client unit. He was forced to pay more than $1000 for a cellphone and phone bills, taking on debt.

‘‘[The client] is not the most problematic person the ministry is required to deal with.’’

The authority also dismissed evidence from MSD’s regional disability adviser, who was unqualified to assess the man’s medical needs yet decided he did not need to regularly see a medical practitioner.

MSD has been directed to pay the man’s medical costs, travel to specialist appointments, phone costs, and the maximum disability allowance of $63.22 a week.