Lockdown Stories: Omar*, 65

*Note: names have been changed to protect the identity and dignity of the people impacted. It’s the pride factor. Dad’s standing in his community is high, and for him, acknowledging that there are financial troubles is a sign of failure.

This story of Omar has been submitted by his daughter who has been supporting Omar and his wife in navigating the payment application system, and keeping up morale.

My father Omar is 65 years of age. He is an Australian citizen who lives in the Parramatta LGA with my step mum, Lina.

Before the current outbreak, my dad was working six days a week as an Uber driver to supplement his pension support payment. He was the sole income earner for the household, as my step mum has been unable to find employment despite her qualifications and extensive experience.

Once the lockdown restrictions were imposed, dad was unable to work. Being on income support (he receives the pension payment) he only became eligible to receive the Disaster Payments from 27 July 2021 as a supplement of $200 per week. Dad has repeatedly tried to register for the Disaster Payment online, but he has yet to be found eligible by the online system so he can’t even access the application form. My step mum is not eligible to receive any support payments because although married to Omar for 10 years, Lina hasn’t hit the 104 weeks of continued residence in Australia. Dad has spent countless hours making phone calls, uploading documents, and filling out and submitting new forms for this government department and that one. Each time he uploads information it takes days to process, and when he calls back to see where things are at, he is told he needs to speak to someone else in another department and provide other information. The system was already aware that he was earning an income – his pension payment was reduced as a result of the income he was declaring. But all of a sudden – there is no recognition of lost income and now there is information that was missing that he was never made aware of. It has been 8 weeks of lockdown and 8 weeks of income loss and 8 weeks of mounting household expenses. Despite all the navigation between departments and between officers, dad has yet to successfully apply online. He still has not received any Disaster Payment. 

Even if or when dad successfully manages to receive the COVID19 Disaster Payment, the amount he will receive will not be able to begin to cover the mounting cost of rent, groceries, and health expenses. His savings are being depleted quickly. He has already reached the point where he will not be able to cover the rent that is due in the next fortnight.

Adding to the growing stress and frustration is the feeling of humiliation. Humiliation at not being able to support my step mum. Humiliation at having to plead with government officers to help him get support. But ultimately, humiliation at the ‘reward’ for all this effort. My father is doing all this running around and hours of effort in the hopes of securing an extra $200/week. He has already lost thousands through no fault of his own, and he cannot see how the payments are even going to be all that helpful.  I’ve tried calling up some of the helplines on his behalf and sat on hold so that he didn’t have to just to try to find out what he can do to get this support. I’ve tried to offer to help financially – just a little - to reduce the stress. Dad wouldn’t have it. “You think I will take money away from you that you need for your children?”

Last weekend dad made the decision to return to driving Uber. Parramatta is still an LGA of high concern and dad is weeks away from being fully vaccinated. He can’t leave the LGA and there isn’t that much demand for ride sharing at the moment, and there’s competition with other drivers in the area who are in the same situation.

The risk of catching the disease is higher than the likelihood of making enough money to meet his basic needs, but dad doesn’t see that he has any other option. The need to pay rent is certain. The need to eat is certain. Catching Covid-19, even though a high risk, isn’t certain. My protests fell on ears that were just fed up and nearing breaking point. And it’s hard to argue with him. What other choice does he have?