Post by murphy on May 20, 2016 10:51:14 GMT 7
Hello, folks. I joined a couple of months ago. Sorry for not introducing myself - I'm quite shy, even in the ether. I've also taken care to not discuss my DSP with anyone other than family, and it's a habit which dies hard.
This most recent budget has affected my psyche more than earlier attacks on DSPers. I, like many of us, have been watching changes over the last decade, each more cruel than the preceding one. I wonder where it will end.
I've been reviewed twice but not under the new tables.
The last review commenced about six weeks after I started study. I was also working 5-10 hours some weeks, none in others. In retrospect, I think work + study meant I fell within Centrelink's risk parameters - those ones they refuse to be transparent about. I recall when I submitted my medical reports for that review the person at the counter didn't want to copy them, told me there were too many pages (it was almost a book), and when I insisted, she showed a colleague at the copier, shaking her head. It was demeaning to have my medical documents flashed around.
Speaking of demeaning, fast forward to the JCA. The JCA at that review was a clinical psych who also had experience with my physical disabilities. The interview lasted the full hour. At the end, when I asked her assessment, she said she couldn't properly assess someone's ability in just an hour. My despair must have showed, because she then said, "I don't think much will change for you." About six weeks later I received a letter with one sentence: "You continue to meet medical eligibility criteria for payment."
I later found out, by phone, that she gave 60 points, 20 on three different tables, 0hr capacity.
My expectation is I'll be reviewed as part of this budget measure as I'm over 35 and not yet reviewed under new tables. My conditions haven't changed in severity or impact on my life - except perhaps I leave the house even less. There is further deterioration apparent on MRI, and I wonder if that will mean some Centrelink genius decides one of my conditions suddenly isn't stable anymore. Or that now I'm no longer of childbearing age (without IVF, anyway) there'll be some notion that my decision not to have a major surgery means I haven't done all that could be done to treat the associated condition. I know no one can insist on major elective surgery, but these things are in my mind nonetheless.
I've looked closely at the new tables. While I'd hope I could still get at least 20 points on the new tables and less than 15 hrs capacity, it's going to depend on the quality of the JCA, something in which I have little faith. So I'll start gathering up reports, collate an updated "book." And get the last JCA report via FOI. (Thanks, Banjo and Gized, for those instructions. I received acknowledgement the same day.)
I have not worked since early last year, when I did a few hours as a once off. I would like to keep trying because I'm fairly isolated. And poor, of course. But it's hard to find work for only a few hours, and where the employer understands you're at the mercy of a poorly behaved body.
This budget, however, means I will not do any more work until I have my documents collated for the review that I believe is inevitable. I know there's an appeal system but I'd rather build a strong case to start off.
Thanks for creating this forum. I hope I'm not missing too much by not being on FB.
This most recent budget has affected my psyche more than earlier attacks on DSPers. I, like many of us, have been watching changes over the last decade, each more cruel than the preceding one. I wonder where it will end.
I've been reviewed twice but not under the new tables.
The last review commenced about six weeks after I started study. I was also working 5-10 hours some weeks, none in others. In retrospect, I think work + study meant I fell within Centrelink's risk parameters - those ones they refuse to be transparent about. I recall when I submitted my medical reports for that review the person at the counter didn't want to copy them, told me there were too many pages (it was almost a book), and when I insisted, she showed a colleague at the copier, shaking her head. It was demeaning to have my medical documents flashed around.
Speaking of demeaning, fast forward to the JCA. The JCA at that review was a clinical psych who also had experience with my physical disabilities. The interview lasted the full hour. At the end, when I asked her assessment, she said she couldn't properly assess someone's ability in just an hour. My despair must have showed, because she then said, "I don't think much will change for you." About six weeks later I received a letter with one sentence: "You continue to meet medical eligibility criteria for payment."
I later found out, by phone, that she gave 60 points, 20 on three different tables, 0hr capacity.
My expectation is I'll be reviewed as part of this budget measure as I'm over 35 and not yet reviewed under new tables. My conditions haven't changed in severity or impact on my life - except perhaps I leave the house even less. There is further deterioration apparent on MRI, and I wonder if that will mean some Centrelink genius decides one of my conditions suddenly isn't stable anymore. Or that now I'm no longer of childbearing age (without IVF, anyway) there'll be some notion that my decision not to have a major surgery means I haven't done all that could be done to treat the associated condition. I know no one can insist on major elective surgery, but these things are in my mind nonetheless.
I've looked closely at the new tables. While I'd hope I could still get at least 20 points on the new tables and less than 15 hrs capacity, it's going to depend on the quality of the JCA, something in which I have little faith. So I'll start gathering up reports, collate an updated "book." And get the last JCA report via FOI. (Thanks, Banjo and Gized, for those instructions. I received acknowledgement the same day.)
I have not worked since early last year, when I did a few hours as a once off. I would like to keep trying because I'm fairly isolated. And poor, of course. But it's hard to find work for only a few hours, and where the employer understands you're at the mercy of a poorly behaved body.
This budget, however, means I will not do any more work until I have my documents collated for the review that I believe is inevitable. I know there's an appeal system but I'd rather build a strong case to start off.
Thanks for creating this forum. I hope I'm not missing too much by not being on FB.