Post by Banker on Mar 10, 2012 12:20:21 GMT 7
The insensitivity of Centrelink!
So I go into Centrelink, as I have to do every so often, for a Personal Contact Interview. At this 'interview' they check my details..".Are you still working part-time Celeste? Still studying? Anything you need to declare to us?"...blah...blah...blah...
I tell the man behind the counter...'Well yes, there will be some changes to my income from work. I will be commencing Long Service Leave at half pay soon due to my current health situation', after which I handed him a Centrelink medical certificate from my Oncologist.
The medical certificate covers me for a few months (at my request to cover my leave of absence from work), however the word "Terminal" is included on the form as my prognosis. My Oncologist told me that the reason she wrote this was to save me any additional stress and harassment from Centrelink....'hopefully they will leave you alone and life will be made a bit easier" she said.
Anyway, the man looks at me...."Oh, this says 'terminal' here...is that right?"
"Yes" I reply, feeling sad of the reminder.
He looks at me in bewilderment..."Oh" he says with a shocked look on his face..."So what is your prognosis then?
"Terminal" I say, with tears starting to well up in my eyes (stupid guy can't even read the form properly!)
He looks at me again.."Have they given you a date?"
"I beg your pardon?" I say in disbelief....WTF?
"How long have they given you?" he says..."I'm just trying to work out if it's worth sending you for a Job Capacity Assessment or if you will be going back to work anytime soon. I need to enter it on the system".
Well I could've reached across that desk and ripped this throat out! What an insensitive pig!
In total disbelief I told him there was no "date". I walked out totally rattled after that very confronting conversation.
Where is the compassion? The sensitivity?...nowhere to be seen that day!
BCNA needs to create a document "Navigating your way through the Centrelink system" for people diagnosed with BC, and "How to treat customers diagnosed with BC" for the Centrelink staff!!!
Come on Centrelink.... while I'm very grateful for the assistance, you need to get your act together when it comes to how to treat very vulnerable people diagnosed wih BC! ♥
www.bcna.org.au/user/766/blog/27213
So I go into Centrelink, as I have to do every so often, for a Personal Contact Interview. At this 'interview' they check my details..".Are you still working part-time Celeste? Still studying? Anything you need to declare to us?"...blah...blah...blah...
I tell the man behind the counter...'Well yes, there will be some changes to my income from work. I will be commencing Long Service Leave at half pay soon due to my current health situation', after which I handed him a Centrelink medical certificate from my Oncologist.
The medical certificate covers me for a few months (at my request to cover my leave of absence from work), however the word "Terminal" is included on the form as my prognosis. My Oncologist told me that the reason she wrote this was to save me any additional stress and harassment from Centrelink....'hopefully they will leave you alone and life will be made a bit easier" she said.
Anyway, the man looks at me...."Oh, this says 'terminal' here...is that right?"
"Yes" I reply, feeling sad of the reminder.
He looks at me in bewilderment..."Oh" he says with a shocked look on his face..."So what is your prognosis then?
"Terminal" I say, with tears starting to well up in my eyes (stupid guy can't even read the form properly!)
He looks at me again.."Have they given you a date?"
"I beg your pardon?" I say in disbelief....WTF?
"How long have they given you?" he says..."I'm just trying to work out if it's worth sending you for a Job Capacity Assessment or if you will be going back to work anytime soon. I need to enter it on the system".
Well I could've reached across that desk and ripped this throat out! What an insensitive pig!
In total disbelief I told him there was no "date". I walked out totally rattled after that very confronting conversation.
Where is the compassion? The sensitivity?...nowhere to be seen that day!
BCNA needs to create a document "Navigating your way through the Centrelink system" for people diagnosed with BC, and "How to treat customers diagnosed with BC" for the Centrelink staff!!!
Come on Centrelink.... while I'm very grateful for the assistance, you need to get your act together when it comes to how to treat very vulnerable people diagnosed wih BC! ♥
www.bcna.org.au/user/766/blog/27213
