Centrelink disability interview.

You may have already looked into this but I was declared permanently disabled by my super fund and have been able to access the insurance component of my super .  I was fortunate to have a phycolgist that had previous had cancer .  I was told that her report had more influence on the decision than my oncologist and gp .  So hope it works out for you.  You and your family do not need the stress

There whole purpose I think is to make life as miserable and difficult as possible. There shocking to deal with.

After hearing absolutely nothing and no mail from centrelink I spent hours the other day on the phone trying to get some answers.

Line 1 The lady told me they didn't have the job assessment details yet and I would have to wait. ( I am thinking did she die, resign, go on an overseas holiday or just plain lose my assessment?)

Line 2. I rang the interview letters number and this lady said yes they have the assessment and just waiting on the team to go through the whole application for approval. (So what? The first lady just lied over the phone to me?)

Line 3. The approval team. Yes they have all my details, doctors letters, job assessment and its ready to be assessed by the team but sorry they are swamped and may take some time to assess. You will get a letter in the mail in a few weeks. (No details on what will be in that letter.)

I wonder sometimes WHY they have telephone contact numbers as nothing ever seems to get resolved.

Hi Brenda
Have you thought of meeting with your local MP ?  Walk into his/her office with a folder and lots of notes so you can be specific but not bitchy or anything.  He/she may just take on the case and find out what is happening.
I asked some months ago about a partial aged pension.  Was told a form would come to me automatically.  A week before my birthday still no form so in I went (I travelled 75 kms. to get to a less busy office) to be told that was not the case !  Completed the forms and attached all the documents.
Here we are 5 weeks later and still no contact from them.  Rang ... ha ha ... they have 49 days (guess this is their 'working days' - probably different from just days they front up at the office) to process the claim and that time is not yet up and besides they have a huge backlog.
I agree with Jailbirdstreet - get a medical certificate as apparently they are not allowed to disregard them (info from a lass I met one day).
Keep plodding on and be a thorn in their side - and maybe try a different office.
Hugs  Summer  :-)

The system bloody sucks that's for sure Brenda. I work in a gp clinic and theres plenty people still on a disability pension when they don't have to be. You work hard all your life and pay your bloody tax and can't get shit when you need it. Income protection costs a bloody fortune. I couldn't claim anything either I might have told you. Can't use any of your super unless you are terminal and have 12 months or less to live can't or have been on a Centrelink payment for 26 weeks and then you have to meet certain criteria. My hubby worked to pay the bills and mortgage so couldn't claim that. Can't claim financial hardship unless you are 3.months in arrears with your mortgage and the bank is about to sell your house plus you have to have been on a govt payment first too. Can't claim for travel unless you live more than a certain amount of kms from the hospital which we didn't but it took at least 45 minutes to get there can't claim medical expenses unless you go private. But I see all these bloody bludgers taking the system for granted and it shits me to tears. Brenda hang in there it's bullshit what you've been through. Contact your local federal member for some support and advice and let them know how you've been treated. I have good one who has taken my concerns about the above and my whinge about the waiting list for public recon in Brisbane to Canberra at least for discussion. Good luck keep us posted. Margie xx

Hey Brenda, complain!!    I just reread your original post and this bit sticks out

"She picked through my side effects one by one about the lymphedema and the eye trouble and seemed happy they weren’t too bad at the moment. "

Tell the truth but don't downplay what you are going through.  You need to tell them how it is on your worst day, not your best day.  Also you can try getting your local mp involved, they can sometimes pull strings that we can't.

Good luck with it.  Keep on top of them.

I am so angry on your behalf. The system is set up to humiliate people and cause unnecessary suffering. Your doctor might be able to give you a medical certificate to get you out of doing job seeking, but when my Mum (not breast cancer, kidney failure + stroke) tried that they refused to accept it! Luckily her job network provider was understanding and just signed her off without her attending meetings 

here you have sympathetic ears at least 

Brenda5 said:

Centrelink appointment for my disability claim and job assessment. Only four months of waiting since my application went in. We met with a psychologist (I think that’s what she said she was) called Lynda. She started with a big long rehearsed spiel that went on for about three minutes during which my eyes glazed over and I lost attention after one minute.

She picked through my side effects one by one about the lymphedema and the eye trouble and seemed happy they weren’t too bad at the moment.

Sometimes she asked a question but I had trouble comprehending and then I couldn’t remember the question she asked in the first place (thank you chemo brain – not) so it was a hard slog answering everything and I was getting a stress head ache.

Questions like can you sweep a floor I could answer but only one floor before I am worn out.

Then she asked why I wasn’t seeing a psychologist? I said I wasn’t aware of any phycologists in my area who bulk billed as that’s what I asked my doctor for in the first place after I found out at the BNCA seminar that I could see a psychologist for free. What I got was a psychiatrist who stuck me immediately on antidepressant medication which reacted badly with me in diarrhea and weight loss and swollen glands, then when I complained he said that’s how you know it’s working, when you get side effects. I got a lump in my good arm pit which sent oncology and my head surgeon scurrying for an ultrasound and blood tests and they were not impressed about the medication and told me to stop taking the antidepressant. Next appointment with the psychiatrist isn’t for months so I don’t know what I am supposed to do.

 

I got a little upset inside but the interview with the Centrelink lady was nearly done so I was holding my breath, ready to jump up and bolt and she said I should be seeing a psychologist. Well then, I lost it and the tears came and I couldn’t stop and I have no idea why I was crying, but I just wanted to get out of there. She said hubby and I should apply for New Start, I think she said it was and register with a job provider.

I got the sobs under control and she let us go, finally. I was thinking about the New Start thing when I got out and I would be a fraud to apply with a job provider as I know full well I cannot work atm. So embarrassing, sheesh!

I've been dealing with Centrelink for years re disabled daughter.  And oh my god, if anything they are getting worse.  Wendy 55 may be able to help.  You have to know the system to get anywhere.  My daughter was registered with disability services since before school started, but I didn't apply for Centrelink payments till mid primary school..... and fought with them at every review ... After one knockback - because her disability is not permanent (she is mentally retarded from birth) I rang some poor woman and thanked her profusely for curing my daughter - I mentioned media and she hung up!!! No sense of humour.  Then at 16yrs I got someone who knew what she was doing, and happened to have her most recent IQ test and bang she got the pension, no more review / questions / forms / crap needed.   That was all I needed???  Why did not someone tell me???  So yes get comfy in there, relax, keep trying, and put in for everything ... you deserve it. 

Maybe take comfy cushion thermos and  take up knitting and do a sit in at the cccccc ..put you face and body out there 
All the best b