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Post by disme on Jun 21, 2013 5:05:27 GMT 7
Hi guys and gals. I'm really pleased I found this site... There is so much information on this site and contained within the stories of others here. At the moment I'm a bit overwhelmed with all the information.
Anyway, will start with a brief introduction and outline of my current status:
I'm 42 year old guy..and after a diagnosis of a chronic disease 2 years ago I then applied for DSP. My initial application was rejected due to my condition not being 'stabilised' which made no sense to me (without going into details now, I believe I am fully elligible which is the only opinion that matters to me) ... So, I then had an ARO review it and after countless phone calls (with the help of my mother) and after finally finally discovering the Impairment Table rating system I realised it was just a game of spoon-feeding them with the correct tools for them to tick their boxes.
Ok, it took some time (over 3 months) from my initial application to then being approved. In the Impairment Tables I scored 30 points and for my 'Assessment of Continuing Inability to Work' the ARO's report says that my baseline is 0-7hours per week 'currently'(!) though he goes on to state that this could increase to 8-14 hours per week over the next two years with intervention. How the $#% would he know??!
Anyway, in the end I was pleased to have got on DSP and have now been on it just shy of 2 years. Now here comes where i need advice.
I had been staying overseas on the 13 week system up until it changed last January. Already it was hard to afford airfares to come back to then turnaround again. However the new 6 weeks of portability plain and simple will eat all of my benefit into non-existance.
Ideally I would prefer to pay no AIRFARES and stay where i am happy (in my situation that is THailand, where i have been living on and off the past 14 years anyhow). I basically don't have a permanent home in Australia (at least on paper i do; my mother's home and address, and is where i am now stuck until i can try and solve this. )
What should be my line? I'm now aware there is something called Unlimited Portability.. but also Indefinate Portability. I just don't know where to start.
Anyway, any words of help or advice would be good. Thanks in advance
D.
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Post by Banjo on Jun 21, 2013 5:50:45 GMT 7
Welcome to the board D.
There's no shortage of advice here, too much for me to repeat it all so have a search through the board first, see what suits your situation then come back with any questions.
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Post by macadamianut on Jun 21, 2013 7:23:15 GMT 7
Airfares are a reasonable price through Scoot and Air Asia. For over a year I didnt know of their existence, so was paying way too much to travel. I was using Flightcentre and Zuji trying to get the cheapest I could, but those online agents let me down bigtime, not offering the discount airlines.
I too had to fight for my DSP, due to a Disability Job mob, they wanted for me to try using their physical trainer/rehabilitation guy, after seeing him one time, he believed he could improve my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with physical exercise (which is bollocks) So centrelink marked me down as not fully treated.
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Post by zorro1 on Jun 21, 2013 8:21:53 GMT 7
"What should be my line? I'm now aware there is something called Unlimited Portability.. but also Indefinate Portability. I just don't know where to start. "
Unless I have missed something there is only one form you need to apply for and thats Unlimited portability. In a nutshell you need your doctor to tick the unable to work and deteriorating for 5 years box on the UP form. To get you started you need to call C/L and have them post the UP forms out to you and you then need to take them to your doctor. If you both agree you will qualify then your next step is to post them back to C/L and await your appointment with the JCA (job capacity) who will be the one who connects the dots and really the one who decides your fate. I agree with you, 6 weeks kills any prospect of travelling. Even though there are new carriers such as scoot its unlikely you will always get the el cheapo fares and even then its a difficult and stressful way to live with C/L constantly peering over your shoulder..
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Post by zorro1 on Jun 21, 2013 9:22:03 GMT 7
hi disme, your case sounds like difficult cos u have no doctors papers from the past two years i guess. those papers you would need to show them that your situation is not getting better and also show them that there is no possible work for the next 5 years. you also could have a problem with residence requierments, cos they get really tuff on this too lately. the old in and out dsp run is over now. in my eyes your only way to keep ur DSP is to return to australia. go back to the doctors and build up your case next 1-2years and than apply for UP. "in my eyes your only way to keep ur DSP is to return to australia. go back to the doctors and build up your case next 1-2years and than apply for UP." Tim I strongly disagree with this advice through personal experience. My dsp was cut off due to residency only 4 months prior to applying and receiving UP C/L do not look at your travel history if you are currently a resident when applying for UP. The only thing at that point that matters is whether or not you are sick enough.
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Post by zorro1 on Jun 21, 2013 9:48:06 GMT 7
"i doubt that any doctor just fill out some papers when you see him again onces after 2 years".
Tim, Im not trying to be difficult, just relaying through personal experience.
Yes in my case I only saw my doctor 2 times. Once when applying and second time was for UP, 2 years later. So yes C/L and your doctor will accept a 2 years gap
"questions for him: how long did he spent in australia past 2 year, does he has house/rent/car etc ..."
this has nothing to do with applying for UP. They do not access you on residency when applying for UP if you are a resident at the time of applying
Its important not to muddle the issue between UP and residency, they are seperate
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Post by tim2013 on Jun 21, 2013 9:54:37 GMT 7
than you have a very very good doc. i know my gp for 10years and he wouldnt fill out those forms properly. but lucky CL didnt even asked for it. had no idea why.
just some old reports where enuff from old tac claim.
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Post by disme on Jun 22, 2013 9:52:23 GMT 7
Airfares are a reasonable price through Scoot and Air Asia. For over a year I didnt know of their existence, so was paying way too much to travel. I was using Flightcentre and Zuji trying to get the cheapest I could, but those online agents let me down bigtime, not offering the discount airlines. thanks for the heads up macadamianut. I will look into those airlines. it appears that air asia now operate oout of sydney whereas before they didn't.
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Post by disme on Jun 22, 2013 9:55:47 GMT 7
Unless I have missed something there is only one form you need to apply for and thats Unlimited portability. In a nutshell you need your doctor to tick the unable to work and deteriorating for 5 years box on the UP form. thanks zorro.. i've been so anxiety stricken and stressed about dealing with centrelink again after my last horrible experience that simple starting lines such as asking for the correct form have eluded me. I will do this first and take it step by step from there.
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Post by disme on Jun 22, 2013 10:08:11 GMT 7
absolutly correct, but if he would apply for UP than they might also look into the resident thing. he also said that he was assessed next 5 year work 8-18hours possible. that would mean he has to bring enuff medical evidence to show them that his condition hasnt improvent or getting worse and he is not able to work at all. past two years he hasnt been to the doctors. i doubt that any doctor just fill out some papers when you see him again onces after 2 years. questions for him: how long did he spent in australia past 2 year, does he has house/rent/car etc ... ok, i believe i will need to supply new medical records when i am reassessed for portability.. so yes, i guess i will have to have supporting evidence of my abilitly to work in the next 5 years from the time of assessment. i'm pretty confident my doctors can provide all the stuff necessary for this when it comes to it. regarding your question of how long i spent in Aust. during the past 2 years: minimal - 2 weeks per visit between the 13 week periods outside the country. i don't own a house or car or any other possessions actually. i stay with my mother when i'm here (which is the address I've been registered with for Centrelink and my banking and any other thing. ) i'm not sure if this would be considered my residency. technically it's not, i've been renting a room in Thailand for the last 14 years. but on paper my address is Australia. where i visit as regularly as i have been able to afford over the years.
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Post by disme on Jun 22, 2013 10:09:58 GMT 7
Its important not to muddle the issue between UP and residency, they are seperate thanks. that's helpful. it's all very overwhelming for a newbie. cheers
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Post by tim2013 on Jun 22, 2013 10:16:50 GMT 7
they never said anything when you call to inform them about your travel? pretty sure they look into the residence soon. spend more time in aussi from now on. get car and bills in your name.
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Post by Banjo on Jun 22, 2013 10:49:37 GMT 7
There's been no indication which way Centrelink will jump with the 6 week portability, allow more or less than the 13 weeks of the past. It is still a good idea to keep your residency ducks in a row with strong ties to Australia.
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Post by tim2013 on Jun 22, 2013 11:02:11 GMT 7
very wise advice
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2013 15:40:13 GMT 7
Hi Disme; welcome to the Forum and don't worry about all the overwhelming aspects ok mate; I was in the same boat as you were 1 year ago and hadn't ever heard of "IP" either. Most people here refer to it as Unlimited Portability and a few like me call it Indefinite Portability "UP or IP", it means exactly the same thing and allows you freedom of travel "Indefinitely" once you have been granted it mate. Once you have been granted "IP" then residency no longer becomes a problem, and it's as simple as that mate! Enjoy the forum mate.
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