Kevin Dynan’s lifelong disability equals lifelong fight after second refusal for disability support

With every step, Kevin Dynan carries the dual weight of a lifelong disability – a clubfoot – and the burden of a system which has denied him the Disability Support Pension not once but twice.

Kevin Dynan was born with talipes also known as clubfoot.

With every step, Kevin Dynan, carries the dual weight of a lifelong disability – a clubfoot – and the burden of a system which has denied him a Disability Support Pension not once but twice.

Mr Dynan, 43, from Girards Hill outside Lismore, has talipes, commonly known as clubfoot, a condition he was born with.

Yet, in a world with the odds stacked against him, he said he has worked for most of his life — most recently in support work.

“I haven’t been a burden on the system and now when I’m trying to get some help it’s just an absolute nightmare,” he said.

Kevin Dynan at his flood-affected home in Girard’s Hill near Lismore.

His dignity stands in contrast to an undignified fight to prove his eligibility for the Disability Support Pension (DSP) which he has applied for due to pain.

Despite evidence, seen by this publication, from his doctor and an orthopaedic surgeon, both stating he can no longer work, he has been denied the support payment by Services Australia.

Kevin Dynan was born with talipes but said he always did his best to work.

He then appealed the decision calling on Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan to assist, but that too has been unsuccessful.

Services Australia state they can only grant payments in line with policy and legislation and that the DSP “is a complex payment to assess”.

“We understand Mr Dynan is going through a very difficult time and while we can’t comment on individual cases, we can confirm we’re assisting him directly to make sure he’s getting all the support available to him through Services Australia,” a spokeswoman said.

Kevin Dynan, 43, is taking his fight for the Disability Support Pension to the Administration Review Tribunal.

However Mr Dynan remains frustrated and angry that the fight to get assistance is proving so difficult despite being on the DSP in 2012.

His next step in his fight is to go before the Administration Review Tribunal.

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Originally published as Kevin Dynan’s lifelong disability equals lifelong fight after second refusal for disability support