Right now in Australia, terminally ill people are falling through the cracks.

They are often ineligible for the Disability Support Pension, and many do not qualify for the sickness allowance, which is grossly inadequate. At the same time, they face significant barriers trying to access their superannuation—and when they do manage to get it out, they’re slapped with hefty taxes.

This is not how we should treat people in their final months of life.

At a time when they should be checking off bucket list dreams and spending precious moments with family, they are buried in paperwork—fighting red tape, filling out forms, and receiving rejection letters from Centrelink and super funds.

This is cruel. Inhumane. Un-Australian.

We urgently call on the Australian Government to introduce a dedicated Centrelink payment for the terminally ill that reflects the true dignity and value of a person's final months.

We propose the following:

A new Centrelink payment exclusively for Australians diagnosed with a terminal illness.
This should be the highest-paying welfare benefit, not the lowest.
An upfront $3,000 "Live Well" payment for recipients to spend on anything they choose—a trip, a gift, a dream.
Automatic and immediate release of superannuation funds for those on this payment.
Tax-free access to super, or at minimum, a heavily reduced tax rate for early withdrawal due to terminal illness.
These are the most vulnerable members of our community. They’ve worked. They’ve paid taxes. They’ve contributed to our society. And now, when it matters most, we are failing them.

Come on, Australia.

Let’s create a system that reflects our values—compassion, fairness, and dignity in dying.

Sign the petition and demand our government act now.

Because no one should spend their last days fighting for crumbs.

– Sarah Ailish McLoughlin
Disability Advocate | Founder, EduPsyched