Post by forrester on May 9, 2016 10:17:53 GMT 7
Firstly thanks for the site, really good to have a place like this to find and share relevant info.
Just brief share of my situation which includes the new government doctor assessment process.
I should have claimed for the dsp several years ago, soon after I couldn't work anymore, instead stubborn pride kept me struggling in a form of denial and as a result have been living in financial difficulty on newstart. Finally last year I bit the bullet and moved forward in making a dsp claim.
First time was a bit of a false start back in April last year, as my Doctor has other commitments and things got a bit messy so I pulled back until later in the year in September when all the necessary paperwork was completed and my claim was lodged. About 7 weeks later a received a letter from Centrelink stating that I required more info in a certain area. So it took them 7 weeks to tell me that, that is how slow they are.
I was given 2 weeks to complete it or my dsp claim would be rejected. Of course the letter is dated 11 days prior once I received it, so of course I had to ask for an extension which I received.
Finally in late January I receive a call from Centrelink saying I've missed my Job Capacity Assessment, even though I had received no letter, or previous contact stating I had such an appointment. Thankfully they are able to reschedule that appointment but not for another 6 weeks, and when I will be away. After pressing a little they are miraculously able to change it to in 2 weeks time.
Mid February I go in for my JCA. The Centrelink staff member who carries out the assessment is not too bad, and after a 40 minute process she concludes that I have no capacity to work. That part is a relief for one it means I no longer have to attend job network appointments which always felt like turning up for parole and the silly training seminars and such.
At this stage having concluded I have no capacity to work any hours per week I am told I now need to wait for an appointment with the newly created Disability Medical Assessment Services, e.g. a government appointment Doctor. Even though my own perfectly capable Doctor with 40 years experience has provide full diagnosis and all supportive evidence, as well as now having seen an experienced JCA officer and all concluded that I can not work, the system has now worked out a way to further slow the process down. It has become more and more apparent that the slowing down is one of the main aims as well of course as rejected people, but just slow everything down that hopefully they just give up or die, better for the deceptive budget.
So, after being told I need to wait for the Medical Assessment, I'm told that it can take several months before I even get my appointment. I went online and found an article stating that some people have had to wait up to 12 months since the introduction of this new process. Miraculously though I get a text message stating that an appointment has been scheduled for me mid April, so only a 2 month wait after my JCA.
Of course it's not so easy to get to my appointment with a close to 4 hour return trip required and with no suitable transport I was fortunate to have a good friend to drive me.
After the 2 hour drive there and half hour wait at the medical centre, the appointment lasts 5 minutes. Even the Doctor concede it's a bit of a farce. On the positive side he does say to me that he sees no problems with my claim and that everything appears to be in order for dsp approval.
That appointment was 4 weeks ago and I'm still waiting for any form of contact as to what happens next. The whole 8 month process has been quite nerve racking and after not smoking for 9 years I have found myself starting again, though last time cigarette packs for about $7, so thankfully I don't think I'll continue the habit.
That's the story so far, maybe there are others wondering how this new system of government contract doctors works, well this has been my experience. It's slow and frustrating but hopefully there is a positive outcome at the end.
Lastly if there is anyone else who has been through this process would be interested to hear how long everything took?
Cheers
Just brief share of my situation which includes the new government doctor assessment process.
I should have claimed for the dsp several years ago, soon after I couldn't work anymore, instead stubborn pride kept me struggling in a form of denial and as a result have been living in financial difficulty on newstart. Finally last year I bit the bullet and moved forward in making a dsp claim.
First time was a bit of a false start back in April last year, as my Doctor has other commitments and things got a bit messy so I pulled back until later in the year in September when all the necessary paperwork was completed and my claim was lodged. About 7 weeks later a received a letter from Centrelink stating that I required more info in a certain area. So it took them 7 weeks to tell me that, that is how slow they are.
I was given 2 weeks to complete it or my dsp claim would be rejected. Of course the letter is dated 11 days prior once I received it, so of course I had to ask for an extension which I received.
Finally in late January I receive a call from Centrelink saying I've missed my Job Capacity Assessment, even though I had received no letter, or previous contact stating I had such an appointment. Thankfully they are able to reschedule that appointment but not for another 6 weeks, and when I will be away. After pressing a little they are miraculously able to change it to in 2 weeks time.
Mid February I go in for my JCA. The Centrelink staff member who carries out the assessment is not too bad, and after a 40 minute process she concludes that I have no capacity to work. That part is a relief for one it means I no longer have to attend job network appointments which always felt like turning up for parole and the silly training seminars and such.
At this stage having concluded I have no capacity to work any hours per week I am told I now need to wait for an appointment with the newly created Disability Medical Assessment Services, e.g. a government appointment Doctor. Even though my own perfectly capable Doctor with 40 years experience has provide full diagnosis and all supportive evidence, as well as now having seen an experienced JCA officer and all concluded that I can not work, the system has now worked out a way to further slow the process down. It has become more and more apparent that the slowing down is one of the main aims as well of course as rejected people, but just slow everything down that hopefully they just give up or die, better for the deceptive budget.
So, after being told I need to wait for the Medical Assessment, I'm told that it can take several months before I even get my appointment. I went online and found an article stating that some people have had to wait up to 12 months since the introduction of this new process. Miraculously though I get a text message stating that an appointment has been scheduled for me mid April, so only a 2 month wait after my JCA.
Of course it's not so easy to get to my appointment with a close to 4 hour return trip required and with no suitable transport I was fortunate to have a good friend to drive me.
After the 2 hour drive there and half hour wait at the medical centre, the appointment lasts 5 minutes. Even the Doctor concede it's a bit of a farce. On the positive side he does say to me that he sees no problems with my claim and that everything appears to be in order for dsp approval.
That appointment was 4 weeks ago and I'm still waiting for any form of contact as to what happens next. The whole 8 month process has been quite nerve racking and after not smoking for 9 years I have found myself starting again, though last time cigarette packs for about $7, so thankfully I don't think I'll continue the habit.
That's the story so far, maybe there are others wondering how this new system of government contract doctors works, well this has been my experience. It's slow and frustrating but hopefully there is a positive outcome at the end.
Lastly if there is anyone else who has been through this process would be interested to hear how long everything took?
Cheers