Disability Support Pension Appealing
Hi I was diagnosed with triple negative grade 3 stage 2 cancer 2 days before christmas 2020. I have a back injury and have been on the public waiting list for surgery as well as mental health issues. ...
Forum Discussion
Zoffiel said:I wasn't eligible for a disability pension after my last treatment left me so incapacitated that I genuinely could not work for two years. Which was, ultimately, reasonable as I did eventually get back into the workforce.
My doctor gave me a series of medical certificates which exempted me from the dread mutual responsibility obligations while I was on Newstart. Eventually this attracted the attention of the bean counters and they started to question the validity of the exemptions and I was called in for a 'please explain' meeting.
I was in such a wretched state that I ended up having a meltdown during the meeting. When it came to light that I had been in a similar situation ten years previously things changed a little--no-one had bothered to check that.
In the end, I was left on the dole but they did give me a pensioner concession card for 12 months. That made a huge difference as I was then eligible for a variety of discounts -- rego, rates, pharma, medical services etc --that really helped me drag myself through my slow and painful 'recovery' without going bankrupt.
Good luck, @Suzie82. It is is a cruel and punitive system. Please don't give up on it, no-one should be subjected to the ritual humiliation that has been put in place to make it so difficult that many simply can't endure the process. MXX
Hi Zoffiel I apologise I think I commented before and I wrote the wrong response to a different person. I am sorry to hear about what you have gone through.. Not good when they didn't bother to check that you had been in a similar situation before, Yes it is a long journey and a tough one and I am glad you were able to get a pensioner concession card to assist with the discounts available to help you financially. I truly wish they had just simply granted it for you and it isn't fair as how does one put a timeline on cancer ? Our health is extremely important and to question you on the validity of your exemptions whilst on newstart thats awful. I am sorry that happened to you. I hope that you are doing much better now. I won't give up I will keep at it and fight xo