Mother forced to take weeks off work while she has treatment for breast cancer is told she'll have to wait MONTHS to get Centrelink payments
- Megan Alymore, 44, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November last year
- She won't be able to work for eight weeks while undergoing radiation treatment
- Ms Alymore applied for sickness allowance with Centrelink to make ends meet
- Centrelink told her she would be waiting at least eight weeks for payment
A single mother with breast cancer who took six weeks off work for radiation treatment was told she will wait months to receive Centrelink payments.
Megan Alymore, 44, from Manjimup in rural Western Australia, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November last year.
Ms Alymore is about to undergo six weeks of gruelling radiation therapy two hours away in Bunbury while staying at a cancer centre.
After finding out she wouldn't be able to work her day job as a medical receptionist for the next two months, Ms Alymore applied for sickness allowance with Centrelink.
But the government agency told the struggling mother she won't see a cent for months.
Megan Alymore (left), 44, from Manjimup in rural Western Australia, was forced to take six weeks off work to get radiation treatment for breast cancer, but Centrelink told her she'd be waiting more than eight weeks for payments
'They said eight weeks, don't be looking for a payment before eight weeks' time. And I said that's not really going to be help me out,' she told Nine News.
Ms Alymore isn't able to use sick or annual leave as a previous lung surgery chewed into any paid time off she had left.
'I still have to pay my own rent at home and my own bills. I don't know how I'm meant to pay my rent. I've never been behind in my rent before. I don't even want to think about it,' she said.
On average, it takes Centrelink 35 days to process sickness allowance claims, but around one in three claims take even longer.
Ms Alymore's son-in-law was also forced to wait three months to be paid a Centrelink sickness allowance while being treated for testicular cancer.
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'People are vulnerable in these situations. They have got enough to worry about and enough to stress about without having to fight Centrelink,' Ms Alymore said.
Department of Services Australia General Manager Hank Jongen told Daily Mail Australia the agency 'sympathises with Ms Aylmore's situation.'
'We are doing all we can to ensure she receives appropriate support while she focuses on her treatment,' Mr Jongen said in a statement.
'We have a range of support services available for people who are experiencing challenging circumstances, including social work support.
'We can also prioritise claims for people experiencing financial hardship. Our staff help people facing difficult situations every day, and we do our best to consider everyone's circumstances.'
On average, it takes Centrelink 35 days to process sickness allowance claims, but around one in three claims take even longer to go through
