Benefit fraud: it isn’t what you think it is
The word ‘fraud’ calls to mind, for me, a nefarious character who is willingly and maliciously ripping off a system to the tune of thousands of dollars.
Category Archives: Financial hardship
WINZ + moving house
This week, I moved house. I wrote a bit about what it means to try and relocate when you’re disabled or chronically ill. I wanted to expand on some of Continue Reading →
So, your chronically ill/disabled friend is moving
This is going to seem like a very self-serving post, because yes, I am moving house this week! But that means that’s all I’m thinking about. I’ve moved a lot, both Continue Reading →
How to self-advocate
After my post about chronic illness being a fulltime job, and how hard and exhausting it can be, a few people asked me – how do I manage to self-advocate? Continue Reading →
Being sick is a fulltime job
So you’ve got a chronic illness? Shit’s about to get real. Here’s something I can say with completely certainty: the “system” (multiple systems) can, and will, let you down. You Continue Reading →
So what else is new?
I’m not surprised, Bill, I’m just disappointed. Actually, that’s not true. I am surprised. I shouldn’t be –I damn well shouldn’t be, after the past four years – but I Continue Reading →
What can I do? – Why I write
A new year always gets me thinking about what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. My reasons for starting Writehanded haven’t really changed, but I often question my sanity Continue Reading →
‘No one would choose to live in poverty’
The National government reckons they’re getting more and more people off the benefit – but is that true? And if it is, what is happening to those people? Guest writer Alicia Continue Reading →
It’s much worse than you thought
I finally got around to doing Stuff’s “Rich or Poor?” indicator. I mean, I had a pretty good idea that I’m poor. But my result “Your standard of living is Continue Reading →
The top ten things illness and disability have taught me
Three years ago almost to the day, I was being wheeled out of Nelson hospital. A few times recently, I’ve caught myself saying “fuck, I wish I knew that before Continue Reading →