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Post by rowdy on Jun 13, 2012 11:41:29 GMT 7
I called C/L again, and I got a very different information from the person I talked to yesterday. I can't believe how some ppl in C/L could provide you with completely wrong information! This person I talked today though was very nice and helpful. She said that the unlimited portability will be available from 01/07 and it is just a formal assessment for future work capacity. It's just a simple from a GP can fill out and after there is just a formal interview. It is not tested based on the point system as the person from C/L said before. Makes a big difference! For carers unfortunately it will be up to 6 weeks at a time. Stupid legislation cause if the person you care fore needs a full time carer, you either lose a few weeks payment or you come back to AU alone, or you both have to cut your holiday short. Yes, they will need to look at that. They were very quick to trumpet the role of carers when they selectively enacted the Borrowman amendment weren't they. |
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Post by roxane on Jun 13, 2012 11:49:58 GMT 7
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Post by spaceyone on Jun 13, 2012 11:55:07 GMT 7
The reason for changing the tables, was to be able to kick people off DSP. And yes, there are plenty on there who should not be on it, the fakers.
There are also those who are very sick, but the impairment tables will discount most of their conditions, and only count one of them now.
People who had been on DSP for many years, and never had a review, were suddenly being called in for them recently.
I can't say that Centrelink plan to reassess everyone on DSP, but they might. In fact they had started to only grant it for a two year period, with a mandatory review at the end of that time, in all but the most dire circumstances.
So, having been on it for many years, won't necessarily guarantee that you keep it. To them, it might just be a signal that it is time to have another look at your health.
Don't forget that you have all been portrayed as being able bodied men, living in up on a permanent holiday overseas funded by the tax payer. This again, gives them the right (in their view) to see if you really were telling the truth all those years ago, when you claimed illness. That makes you more of a target, than others on DSP, not less.
Obviously, if you know you will pass with flying colours, then you have nothing to fear from a residency review, or portability application.
However, anyone who went over there, and who's health has improved during that time, will have to explain that to them. I would be gathering up as many medical records as I could, from where you live, rather than just relying on what you can get from your doctors back here.
Other contributing factors were once applied to DSP, age, circumstance, etc, but will they be this time? When men who are three months of OAP are being forced to attend employment agencies and apply for 10 jobs a week, and jump through the hoops, I would not feel so secure about any Job Capacity Assessment to be prepared by Centrelink.
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Post by spaceyone on Jun 13, 2012 11:59:47 GMT 7
Found this while having a look for their draft of the Portability Application form. Hopefully we can find it  The Government will strengthen the Disability Support Pension (DSP) assessment process by auditing a sample of DSP claims. Health Professional Advice Units (HPAU) located in Centrelink offices help DSP assessors to make a fully informed assessment by providing specialist medical and rehabilitation advice. This measure will draw on the expertise of the HPAU to audit 1 per cent (some 1,612 claims) of recent DSP claim assessments over a 12 month period in 2012‑13. The audit will help identify any deficiencies or inconsistencies in the current process. The cost of the measure will be met from within the existing resources of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Department of Human Services. www.budget.gov.au/2011-12/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-09.htmand this is the next section: This measure removes a disincentive for DSP recipients to participate in the workforce and addresses the inconsistent treatment of people granted DSP before or after May 2005. This measure will cost $7.6 million over four years. |
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Post by rowdy on Jun 13, 2012 12:02:49 GMT 7
It tell us more about the Government departments that have the responsibility of implementing the legislation - HOPELESS. |
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Post by breadrolls on Jun 13, 2012 12:10:53 GMT 7
Anyway this is what will happen.
They will begin processing unlimited from the 18th. I believe we already knew that. Will have to undergo a reassessment even though I have already had one under the new impairment tables just a few months ago and will have to have a face to face with a JCA. And only then will unlimited be granted.
Ok, I assume you just got this off the phone today?
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Post by roxane on Jun 13, 2012 12:49:58 GMT 7
I remember when hubby went through the JCA a few years ago, it was really a very brief, formal assessment. How can it be anything else, the person who's assessing you is not a specialist, not even a doctor, he wouldn't have a clue of your medical condition. What is important is what the doctor writes down on the form.
However before sending hubby to go through the unlimited port. assessment, I'll wait for feedback from you guys ;-). Don't want to get unexpected surprises.
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Post by rowdy on Jun 13, 2012 12:52:15 GMT 7
I remember when hubby went through the JCA a few years ago, it was really a very brief, formal assessment. How can it be anything else, the person who's assessing you is not a specialist, not even a doctor, he wouldn't have a clue of your medical condition. What is important is what the doctor writes down on the form. However before sending hubby to go through the unlimited port. assessment, I'll wait for feedback from you guys ;-). Don't want to get unexpected surprises.[/b] What Roxane means is she will wait until we go first ..... ;D |
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Post by spaceyone on Jun 13, 2012 12:59:37 GMT 7
I remember when hubby went through the JCA a few years ago, it was really a very brief, formal assessment. How can it be anything else, the person who's assessing you is not a specialist, not even a doctor, he wouldn't have a clue of your medical condition. What is important is what the doctor writes down on the form. However before sending hubby to go through the unlimited port. assessment, I'll wait for feedback from you guys ;-). Don't want to get unexpected surprises. Not always my friend, not always A senior customer service offficer at Centrelink has the power to overrule a medical certificate, and disregard the GP's advice that someone needs time off work. A JCA assessor, who is supposed to be mildly qualified but these days seem to be no more than social workers, can also mark all of your conditions as existing, but not qualifying because they can be treated, or are in the process of same. I cannot comment on these new Health Professional Advisory Unit people they are supposed to have now, who are supposed to be qualified, as I have not yet encountered them. I have not heard that they have cleaned up their act, in unfairly assessing people. Good luck though, with hubby's review, and your travel plans. Keep on keeping us updated on what C/L tells you. |
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Post by Banjo on Jun 13, 2012 13:27:35 GMT 7
I remember when hubby went through the JCA a few years ago, it was really a very brief, formal assessment. How can it be anything else, the person who's assessing you is not a specialist, not even a doctor, he wouldn't have a clue of your medical condition. What is important is what the doctor writes down on the form. However before sending hubby to go through the unlimited port. assessment, I'll wait for feedback from you guys ;-). Don't want to get unexpected surprises.[/b] What Roxane means is she will wait until we go first ..... ;D[/quote] That's fair enough, when we started the forum, and you were one of the first here, we placed ourselves squarely in the firing line in the full knowledge that we would very likely be singled out. I sometimes think that losing my pension last year was more than just the luck of the draw.  |
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Post by roxane on Jun 13, 2012 15:30:32 GMT 7
[quote I sometimes think that losing my pension last year was more than just the luck of the draw. [/quote] Ohhh, I didn't know, very sorry to hear that.  How did you lose it? |
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Post by Banjo on Jun 13, 2012 15:38:41 GMT 7
I was cut off on portability grounds, they stated that i had spent too much time out of the country to be an Australian resident.
I appealed to the SSAT and was reinstated with back pay.
The law has changed since then with more emphasis placed on time spent out of the country and several of our members are currently fighting Centrelink's interpretation of this in the appeals system.
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Post by theman on Jun 14, 2012 11:53:22 GMT 7
So we started this topic with very optimistic news about this law and at the end it apparently come to that we are all about to be reviewed and majority of us kicked-out of DSP. The point is, nobody knows anything sufficient(including Centrelink) about this new law so all we can do is to wait and see what is going to happen in the next few month. Meanwhile, please don't spread panic!
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Post by Banjo on Jun 14, 2012 12:05:20 GMT 7
Well said.
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Post by rowdy on Jun 14, 2012 12:23:09 GMT 7
So we started this topic with very optimistic news about this law and at the end it apparently come to that we are all about to be reviewed and majority of us kicked-out of DSP. The point is, nobody knows anything sufficient(including Centrelink) about this new law so all we can do is to wait and see what is going to happen in the next few month. Meanwhile, please don't spread panic! Very well said |
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