|
Post by remus on May 2, 2017 17:21:26 GMT 7
Hi all,
I'm 44 and I've had a DSP for mental health reasons since 2011. I found the assessment process at the local CL terrifying, I hate talking to people about my demons. I got through it, and qualified for the DSP on my problems, I did have a few documents from doctors as well.
I've recently experienced some sadness which has tested me. I thought it would be great to leave my life behind and get away oversea's for a few months, travel and do some volunteer work. Imagine my shock to discover I can only leave for 28 days. I have also considered that it might be cheaper to live oversea's and save money for a future.
So I started researching my options and ended up at this forum.
I'm interested in making an application for Permanent Portability, as its cheaper to live in other country's. I can not afford to save for a future here, and the rent i pay is only making someone else's quality of life better.
I had originally thought it would be great if i could live oversea's until i can save enough money to buy a block of land in Tas and put a caravan on it. But after reading a few threads here about how happy people are to live in there own little paradise, I think I'll keep my mind open about the future.
I would be grateful for any advice I can get about how to move ahead with my application.
Thanks for your time.
|
|
|
Post by Banjo on May 3, 2017 6:58:52 GMT 7
Welcome to the forum Remus.
Applying is fairly simple. you ring Centrelink and ask them to send you out the forms. You will find out that you have to undergo another assessment, so I suggest you have a talk to your doctor/specialist about this beforehand.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 4, 2017 13:34:37 GMT 7
Welcome aboard Remus. As Banjo has said it is pretty straight forward. However something to bear in mind when discussing your application with your medical professionals is, that as you were DSP approved pre 2012 your approval was "Diagnosis Based" not "Function Based". Your assessment for UP will be done under the new 2012 rules, i.e. "Function Based". Below are links which may provide valuable insight. Cheers bear guides.dss.gov.au/guide-social-security-law/1/1/i/10The Tables: are function based rather than diagnosis based, describe functional activities, abilities, symptoms and limitations, and are designed to assign ratings to determine the level of functional impact of impairment and not to assess conditions. www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2011L02716Scroll down to "Part 3, Table 5"
|
|
|
Post by remus on May 4, 2017 19:02:27 GMT 7
Thank you banjo and bear.
I've had a look at the table "Part 3, Table 5"
I've read a few threads here so far. Am I right, that I have to score 20 points as assessed by a Psychologist and Psychiatrist in ONE particular table ? I think I would qualify. I'll have a chat to my GP and Physiologist about it before contacting CL.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 4, 2017 19:35:36 GMT 7
You are right that you have to score 20 points as diagnosed by a GP, Psychologist and or Psychiatrist in ONE particular table and chatting to your GP and Physiologist about it before contacting CL, I think is good strategy.
You will also be subjected to a JCA (Job capacity Assessment) as part of your UP application process. I once put in an application for UP, however my condition flared to the point of being hospitalised again so I withdrew it. Just mentioning this because of your comments in your OP.
If only relying on Psychologist's report, they must be a "Clinical Psychologist". Also in Table 5 to attract 20 points, "The person has severe difficulties with most of the following". MOST being more than half; i.e. 4+ from the 6 descriptors.
|
|
|
Post by krystal on May 5, 2017 2:27:07 GMT 7
Just a quick comment if I may.
If you're going to get a letter from your Clinic Psychologist make sure he puts something in it to verify the conditions of UP ("DSP recipients with a severe and permanent impairment and no future capacity to work may also be eligible for unlimited portability").
Key words - Severe, permanent, no future capacity to work.
|
|
|
Post by krystal on May 5, 2017 2:40:16 GMT 7
You are right that you have to score 20 points as diagnosed by a GP, Psychologist and or Psychiatrist in ONE particular table and chatting to your GP and Physiologist about it before contacting CL, I think is good strategy. Bear, I don't have any knowledge of UP or applying for it but I'm confused about the 20 points on one table for UP (I know you need this to qualify for DSP with no Program of Support requirements). This is the bit I'm confused about and would appreciate some first hand knowledge here. The Social Security Act s23 - Dictionary subsection (4B) - Severely disabled
For the purposes of this Act, a person is severely disabled if:
(a) a physical impairment, a psychiatric impairment, an intellectual impairment, or 2 or all of such impairments, of the person make the person, without taking into account any other factor, totally unable:
(i) to work for at least the next 2 years; and
(ii) unable to benefit within the next 2 years from participation in a program of assistance or a rehabilitation program; or
(b) the person is permanently blind.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Is this another case of Centrelink making their own Guidelines that don't represent the legislation?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 5, 2017 3:29:29 GMT 7
G'day Krystal, no they'r not making it up as they go along in this case. They just have two or three legislated definitions of "Severely Disabled" and although post Dec 2002 manifest rules apply, the same doesn't apply for post Dec 2002 determinations of "Severely Disabled/NFWC". UP doesn't come cheap. Hope this helps clarify. Cheers bear 1 July 2012 changes to indefinite portability of DSP To be eligible for indefinite portability under this rule: the recipient must have a severe impairment - that is, be assessed as having an impairment rating of at least 20 points under the Impairment Tables introduced on 1 January 2012, of which 20 points or more are assigned under a single table, and the level of impairment is considered long-term - that is, the impairment will persist as a severe impairment (no prospect of significant improvement) for at least the next 5 years, and the impairment will prevent the recipient from doing any work independently of a program of support in the next 5 years, OR the recipient is assessed as manifestly qualified for DSP under the manifest criteria in force at the time of assessment (these are the post-December 2002 criteria). guides.dss.gov.au/guide-social-security-law/7/1/1/10
|
|
|
Post by Banjo on May 5, 2017 6:37:30 GMT 7
I've long considered this to be unfair but can't seem to get anyone's attention on the matter. They introduce a points system for the DSP but then say that someone with a single disability is less capable of working than someone with multiple impairments.
|
|
|
Post by remus on May 5, 2017 11:05:04 GMT 7
I just want to say this sounds terrifying.
Last time my GP signed a form, and I provide CL with a bunch of referrals to Phy's I'd seen in the past. I also had to endure a interview at CL while they asked me a bunch of private questions.
Now I have to go through it all over again, and find a Clinical Physiologist and maybe a Psychiatrist, and chat to my GP again. And I might loose my DSP in the process....
My fear is huge, and its kept me from committing to trying to qualify for UP in the past. But after my recent problems have me looking for somewhere new to live I have realised:
a. I need somewhere away from the suburb's and quiet b. Which means buying a car c. The prices of rent out there are even higher than where I live now in the heart of Logan City. d. I will loose a huge percentage of my modest savings to buy a car, and because of the increased expenses of maintaining a car and higher rent's, I'll never save money on the DSP again. e. As rents and the cost of living continue to increase I'll eventually start spending my savings to keep up, and when its all gone I'll become homeless.
So the writing is on the wall... I have no choice but to try. If I can find somewhere to live where the cost of living is low I can save for a future, and live in basic comfort.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 5, 2017 11:10:39 GMT 7
Also consider social housing if you haven't already.
|
|
|
Post by roxane on May 5, 2017 11:59:19 GMT 7
welcome! I am appalled by the assessment process, so sorry you had to put yourself out at a local CL office talking about things what only your DR should know and the only person who should be discussing it with you! Honestly, so disgusted! But I'm glad you got through it. You came to the right place to seek advice!
|
|
|
Post by remus on May 5, 2017 15:14:31 GMT 7
Also consider social housing if you haven't already. I got put on a waiting list, and after a few years, got a letter saying I had not responded to a confirmation i still wanted to wait, and was taken off the list. I tried to dispute it and they said that because i did not respond that the decision was final. I was told I could reapply and the waiting list is now about 6 years. I guess the next step for me is to reach out to people who have UP and find out exactly how cheaply its possible to live, and how much less DSP I will get if i live overseas. I still don't know if its actually worth it.
|
|
|
Post by tasjo on May 5, 2017 15:21:24 GMT 7
Just one thing that I did in relation to an 'appropriate' diagnosis for mental health. I continued to see my psychologist under my Better Health Plan because I do not need her to issue scripts. I then used 2 visits of my plan to have a Clinical Psychologist confirm her diagnosis and that my treatment was also appropriate. Personally, I dont mind getting a specialist I'm only going to see a couple of times, but keep the regular one 'on side'.
|
|
|
Post by krystal on May 5, 2017 15:55:51 GMT 7
G'day Krystal, no they'r not making it up as they go along in this case. They just have two or three legislated definitions of "Severely Disabled" and although post Dec 2002 manifest rules apply, the same doesn't apply for post Dec 2002 determinations of "Severely Disabled/NFWC". UP doesn't come cheap. Hope this helps clarify. Cheers bear 1 July 2012 changes to indefinite portability of DSP To be eligible for indefinite portability under this rule: the recipient must have a severe impairment - that is, be assessed as having an impairment rating of at least 20 points under the Impairment Tables introduced on 1 January 2012, of which 20 points or more are assigned under a single table, and the level of impairment is considered long-term - that is, the impairment will persist as a severe impairment (no prospect of significant improvement) for at least the next 5 years, and the impairment will prevent the recipient from doing any work independently of a program of support in the next 5 years, OR the recipient is assessed as manifestly qualified for DSP under the manifest criteria in force at the time of assessment (these are the post-December 2002 criteria). guides.dss.gov.au/guide-social-security-law/7/1/1/10I think you made my point for me Bear. The Legislation says "severely disabled" can be more than one impairment, Centrelink, that work from the Guide, says "20 points on ONE table". I think people who are refused UP on the basis that they don't have 20 points on ONE table could argue that the legislation doesn't impose that criteria.
|
|