Then as my brain started coming back online, I realised something was seriously wrong."I hadn't had a major health event before — it took me completely by surprise."Eventually, she resigned, moved back to Melbourne to be closer to family, and began treatment through an allied health clinic specialising in complex, long-term conditions.The turning point came when her partner at the time was made redundant."That's when I really had to look at what support existed," she said."I didn't even know if long COVID would be recognised Without income protection, I would've had to move back in with my parents and be completely dependent again."Ms Frahamer now works nine hours a week in client support at the same allied health clinic that once treated her — about 40 per cent of her former capacity."It's been about a year at this level," she said.But she's determined to take steps to work full-time again."Work gives you purpose," she said."When it's taken away through no fault of your own … it's hard."Associate Professor Ross Iles, a Monash University researcher and chief research adviser at SuperFriend, said the number of working-age Australians needing income support had risen steadily."Mental health seems to be having a bigger toll on people's ability to work," he said.One of the biggest problems with the way income support is set up is fragmentation, according to Mr Iles.Each scheme has different eligibility rules, medical evidence requirements and application processes."If someone's workers' compensation claim is rejected and they need to turn to insurance or social security, that's a whole new application," he said."New forms, new medical assessments, new processes