HE claimed he was so disabled his wife had to cut up his food and dress him - but Sami Habashi actually spent his days making pizza at his family's Sydney restaurant.

The Panania father claimed the disability support pension for almost four years before it was cancelled by Centrelink after it uncovered information from his accountant.

Mr Habashi's duties were listed on a business form filled in by his accountant as "pizza making, cleaning, ordering supplies, bookkeeping and telephone orders".

It claimed he worked "125 hours per week".

In a case before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Mr Habashi denied he claimed work hours and duties but gave evidence that he did make pizzas and help his wife wait tables.

The tribunal, which agreed with Centrelink that Mr Habashi did not qualify for the DSP, found "many inconsistencies in Mr Habashi's evidence", including about how many days he would attend the family business and what he did there.

"First he said he would spend all of his time sitting in a chair by the phone, answering it," a tribunal finding this month states.

"Later he said he was incapable of sitting for more than 15 minutes and could not hold the phone in his hand.

"He said he was serving tables with his wife, taking orders on the phone and ordering supplies. This contrasted with his evidence that all he would do was 'sit there'.

"Mr Habashi also said his wife dresses him, showers him and cuts up his food and has been required to do so because of his condition for the last 'four to five years'.

"However, Mr Habashi said he made one or two pizzas when he was at the shop."

Mr Habashi was able to travel to Egypt for almost three weeks to see family in June last year, the tribunal said.

The tribunal found Mr Habashi did have a permanent spinal condition and a limb disability, with symptoms including pain, arm numbness and hand weakness and the loss of a quarter of the normal range of movement.

But, it ruled his overall disability fell below the threshold for the DSP.

When approached at his home yesterday Mr Habashi said he had been on the disability support pension but was no longer claiming the benefits. He said he had a "problem" with claiming and was looking for work. He disputed the claims in tribunal documents, saying: "Who works 125 hours a week?"

A family member said Mr Habashi wanted to appeal against the decision in the Federal Court.

Originally published as Earning a crust, claiming disability