I didn't say there is no compliance hurdles or the benefits are supposed to be easy to get.

I said that the author insinuates the woman is actively, even personally trying to stop him from getting the benefits, instead of following a rulebook. Which is quite surprising to me, as my experience tells me most employees don't care about saving money for their employers unless they're very strongly motivated to do so.

> She was counting on the friction of the physical world to make me give up.

The USA federal system is similar from people I've spoken to. They basically tell you most applications of benefits will only be approved on appeal.