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[utopia]

So I received a letter from CentreLink today. Very different from the letters they normally send me.
They are requesting my doctor fill out a different type of CentreLink Medical Certificateddetailing what my illness is, whether it's temporary or permanent, what my treatment is, how long I will be 'sick'.
The letter states that there is a time period for being sick - 13 weeks! I've had a years worth of medical certificates in the last 12 months.
My psychiatrist doesn't know yet if it's temporary or permanent - although I had planned on asking him this question anyway when I see him on Monday.
But if it's permanent, would CentreLink even aporove a disability pension. I don't think so. As when I'm feeling better I should be able to work, until the next episode.
My psychiatrist is waiting for me to 'stabilise' (workcover terminology) - to decide if I will ever get better. If I won't get better. Or if I'll fluctuate between the two. I need him to do that, so WorkCover can sort out my % of incapacity. That should help with CentreLink, but that's months away yet. And I don't think CentreLink will wait that long.
I can't afford mentally to be pushed into looking for work. And I can't afford financially to lose my $260 a fortnight. That's our food and bills and petrol money.
Am scared CentreLink will cut me off. I tried calling them today, but as usual their phone line was permanently engaged. (That's what happens when you sack a heap of workers, to save money). But that doesn't help me.
Maybe I should ask my Mind Australia worker to make an appointment for me with CentreLink and she can come with me. But I'll still need my psychiatrist to fill out that form. My gp can't do it. As the gp I saw for 4 years left our area last year. Started seeing another gp - but I didn't like her. And have only had one appointment with a new one. So she doesn't really know me - except to say I have White Coat Syndrome. Lol.
Gotta laugh or you cry.
Feel like crying. Why does everything have to be so bloody hard and complicated.

[Mazarita]

Hi @utopia, you have my compassion in having to answer to Centrelink. If your condition is permanent, there should really be no reason for you not to receive a disability pension. When I applied and was given it around 2010, the criteria was that the condition was likely to continue for two years. I was on sickness allowance for 18 months before I got the DSP. That actually helped my application. I'm not sure what the conditions of getting DSP are now. Sounds like a really good idea to get your Mind Australia worker to help with this. Really hoping it can be sorted quickly. Perhaps if you explain the situation to your psychiatrist, they will be more helpful with answers.

[utopia]

Thanks @Mazarita. I forgot all about the sickness benefit. Maybe I could go on that until everything gets sorted out.
Thanks for your advice.

[Maggie]

@utopia Do you have a social worker who might be able to address some of this for you?? I'm gobsmacked at the medical process these days. 12 sessions with a psych and you're fixed or out, 15 mins with a dr or a double booking. Money money money, not just the Abba version either. Causing more MH issues, more stress/anxiety.

I have been on disability before my present pension, it was easier back then. Unfair these days. Punished for being unwell. Hearing you @utopia

[Mazarita]

I think Centrelink may also have social workers, @utopia, that we can ask to speak to. I never spoke to one but I've heard of others being helped by them in the past.

[Bella1978]

 @utopia

Hey sweets, here I am over at your thread 😊

Omg, there is a time period for being sick? How on earth is that supposed to work??? I assume that is a new form they’ve brought out? I remember when I was on newstart but exempt from looking for work with a medical certificate. All was good for 2 years but after that they wouldn’t except medical certificates anymore. At that stage though, I was waiting for my carers pension to come through. I told them there is no point me coming in for a job capacity assessment cause I cant go back to work as I am a carer. Fortunately, they gave me extensions cause of my situation so I didn’t have to mess around with the crap they wanted me to do. But I guess with centrelink things change, hey?

I do think though that when applying for disability a person’s condition needs to be stabilised. Im not much help though am I?

Omg, I rang my sister … grrrr … the texts were getting a bit long in the tooth – back and forth. We were on the phone for just under 2 hours. I’ll never understand that woman! But I stayed firm, she has to sort her stuff out, not up to me.

Anyway, enough about me, back to you … I do hope that your psychiatrist can shed some light on whether your illness is temporary or permanent. Centrelink adds so much stress when we are already going through a stressful situation – it is never easy dealing with them. and especially when they throw a spanner in the works like they have done with you. im so sorry luv ☹

I think if the illness is permanent and stabilised you should be eligible for a disability pension. It is very hard though with some illnesses, as there are periods when we can work but other periods when we can’t work, ie mental illness, and other chronic conditions, eg rheumatoid arthritis – can go through flare ups and other periods of remission. Very erratic, but i dont think centrelink understand that there are many shades of grey with some illnesses, its not black and white.

I do feel for you though luv as you have the workcover claim going on at the same time, and im assuming that isn’t helping things with sorting centrelink stuff out.

Ooh Mind Australia, I haven’t heard of them, what do they do?

Oh luv, I was just reading about your ordeal with the psych needing to fill out the form, gp can’t do it, other gp left, and other who said you have white coat syndrome – oh bless, I had a bit of a chuckle at all that! *hugs* … and yes, either we laugh or we cry.

You doing okay tonight? Sorry this has taken me so long to type – 2 hours was taken up on the phone with my sister lol!

so sleepy i am *yawn*

i hope your appt with psychiatrist goes well tomorrow luv. please let me know? 

xx

[utopia]

@Bella1978. I don't even want to apply for the Disability Pension. And they would reject it anyway. It's very hard to get now. I just need them to keep my payment coming in until I'm either well enough to work or my court case comes up and I win.

Someone on this thread said something about a Sickness Benefit. I don't know about it, but maybe I can go on that. So long as I don't lose any money. Can't afford that.

I do have an appointment on the 13th of June to Centrelink Job Network who is meant to find me a job when I'm well enough. They need to do a new asessment on what type of work I could do - when well again. Seriously. We've done about 6 of these in the past. They know what my specialists have said. But if I don't go, my pension gets cut. So can't win.

That's life on CentreLink and WorkCover. Fun fun times.

Sorry you had a hard time with your sister. I hope you can get a good nights sleep tonight.

[utopia]

Can't stop the chatter in my head. Worrying if my psychiatrist will say I'm well enough to go and find a job. I know I'm not well enough. But it doesn't stop me worrying that things will work against me. This is starting to become my normal when CentreLink or Workcover need me to do something new. I stress that it won't go my way. I worry I will lose all my supports - financial and medical.
I know the chances of that happening are slim. But then I also know that CL & WC are not logical in what they do and anything can happen.
I fear being told I am a fraud. That I can't be this sick over what happened at work. I must be bull****ing. All I hear about now are Dole Bludgers rorting the system and costing tax payers too much money. And how could you get PTSD when you weren't in a war? And why aren't you working yet? Why are you going to hospital again. It doesn't work, otherwise they would have fixed you by now. I saw you smiling the other day, you must be better.
The guilt and shame people try to put on you.
My sister does it all the time. She has to work full time and here I am not working. Not doing anything. It's not fair. If only I could swap with her. And be able to work and have savings and go on a simple holiday. Or have people over for dinner. Or go to concerts. Go to Melbourne on the train without having to do breathing exercises all the time - just to stop me from getting off the train early - as the anxiety grows.
Just feeling bitter and angry that I can't cope. I can't do what a 'normal' mother would do. What a normal person my age would do.
And it's all out if my hands. Workcover & Centrelink are in control of what happens to me. And if not them - then my psychiatrist and psychologist and all the others.
It doesn't feel like my life anymore.

[Mazarita]

Hi @utopia, just letting you know I'm around at the moment if you feel like chatting.

Also, I should clarify what I said earlier about Sickness Allowance. That was what it used to be called. I had to provide regular medical certificates. Not sure if it still exists as a separate thing to Newstart now. Could be worth checking out though.

[utopia]

I will check on that Sickness Benefit @Mazarita. Thanks. Everything has changed in CL over the years.
I'm not a big fan of change anymore. I used to like it. Now it causes anxiety.
Am very tired - but my mind isn't. Too late to take a sleeping tablet - otherwise I won't be able to drive to my appointment.
At least I have a full tank of petrol in my car.