The couple was delighted last year to move into a Southern Cross Housing home built under the National Rental Affordability Scheme and hoped the program would survive to help others.

Ms Law has a brain tumour and also hoped she would not have to continually justify her Disability Support Payment.

“This unit has been great because it is very expensive on the open market to get a reasonable place,” Mr Harrison, 62, said.

“We had no sense of security. It would be my whole salary for the rent. We kicked a goal here and someone else should be able to, too.”

The part-time retail assistant cares for Ms Law, who was diagnosed 10 years ago with a tumour on her optic nerve of her right eye.

Ms Law said she worked with Mr Harrison in their own business until three years ago, but they had to “walk away” when the pain and stress became too much.

“It is like hot needles in the eye and Chinese drums in your head,” she said.

She said securing the pension took months and cost hundreds of dollars in visits to multiple doctors, scans, trips to Canberra and lost income.

“We were not paying the electricity bill because of the doctors’ bills,” she said.

Ms Law said her heart sank at the idea of having to reapply.

“I wondered if I would have to go through it all again and I would like them to leave me alone,” she said.