From Mr L. Attard

I would like someone at Social Security to explain to me why cases involving disability benefits (tal-Invalidita) are decided arbitrarily by people who never see or speak to the applicant.

There have been many complaints that some applicants are being denied benefits! The reason? To end abuse, or so they say! While abuse may certainly exist like in any department, genuine cases are also being affected. And since our social laws guarantee such individuals the right to benefits then the question arises: who is abusing whom? Let’s be logical. If an applicant’s psychiatrist and orthopaedic doctor, who see their patient regularly, claim that’s/he is unfit for work, how can some person in some distant office declare otherwise without having ever seen or spoken to that patient. Also, the implication is that the patient’s doctors are either quacks or liars!

Furthermore, to add insult to injury, those applicants whose disability benefits have been discontinued are told that they cannot appeal! Is this what one expects of a country that proudly toots its horn as a member of the European Union?

Of course, we might say that this is helping the government because of the financial dire straits it is in; but, how would such people feel when the government denies them their measly pittance and yet has enough to give some minister thousands and thousands for some pavement.

Can anyone explain?

Leo Attard

VICTORIA