Lived Experience Forum

[KirSa_EnigmA]

I posted this in my own thread about the criteria for DSP applications.  Posting here for anyone who might need to navigate this.  Happy to answer questions if ppl have them, but I'm no expert, I can only go with my own experience.  Here's what I've got so far:

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I've been taking a closer look at the criteria and online application and I tell ya what, there's a lot of hoops to jump through!

tl;dr: Must have official diagnosis. Must be being treated and ongoing treatment. Must be unlikely to improve. Must meet 20 points on one table of imparement to instantly qualify for DSP.  If 20 points are across multiple tables, then you must complete a Program of Supports for 18 months, in the prior 3 years before you can qualify for DSP. (Program of Supports is job network assistance and training to help improve your situation)

Long version: 

Here are the main hurdles (for anyone else looking to make a claim): 

1. Your medical condition needs to be "Diagnosed, Reasonably Treated, and Stabilised" - These 3 criteria will be the biggest hurdle for most people I'd say. 

- Diagnosed - Probably the easiest one of the 3.  To their credit, the diagnosis, while necessary, is not the focus of their assessment.  It's the impact the condition has on your ability to work. The diagnosis just needs to be official and in writing by a medical professional (for mental health, a clinical psychologist, or a psychiatrist)

- Reasonably Treated - There's a few examples on their website, but for the most part this means that you can't be waiting for appointments or have a lackluster history of appointment attendance.  The consider the next 2 years of planned treatment too, and if there's a chance your condition might improve then it's not 'stable' and they'll likely want you to wait and see. 

- Stabilised - As indicated above, if your condition might improve with treatment over the next 2 years they'll consider the situation still unstable, and they'll postpone judgement until it is unchanging.  This is the real kicker, in my eyes.  I mean, if you improve, you do yourselve a service, right? But if you improve, you also do yourself OUT of the support service.  I won't get into the socio-economics of this monster, but I'm sure you can see the contradiction here. 

2. The Imparement Tables for Assessment - (If you want a copy of the actual tables for your reference, you can google: "Tables for the Assessment of Work-related Impairment for Disability Support Pension" and it should be the first link.  It's a bast*rd of a thing to find and all other references are vague.) 

- Rules - Mental health is table 5 (substance use is 6).  In order to qualify immediately for DSP you need to score 20 points in one table.  That means 'There is a severe functional impact on activities involving mental health function.' 

You must tick off 4 or more of the criteria on the list, including: self care, relationships, community, concentration, behaviour, task completion.  Similar list for substance abuse, but more focussed on the impact of your usage habits, health, associations, etc. 

If you score 20 points or more, but spread across more than one table, then you need to participate in a Program of Supports.

-  Program of Supports - This is an effort by the government to improve your employability by outsourcing training, job search efforts, and support, to a job network.  Basically, it's like being on jobseeker except you're a much higher needs client.  (stream 5 - in old Centrelink speak) 

If you don't have the 20 points in one table and they're spread across multiple tables then you need to have completed a Program of Supports withing the past 3 years.  Now, I'm pretty sure this has only been available for the past year or so, so I don't know where they get 3 years from... but anyway.  You must have participated for 18 months (or less if the POS is less - whatever that means)

Note: I love how the Program of Supports abbreiation is POS haha!  

3. Online Application - If you can tick all the boxes and are prepared to jump through the hoops, the online application through mygov is actually pretty straightforward. I did an application in about an hour last night. 

- Documents - The tough part will be making sure you have all the documents.  Basically, any medical records that support your claim.  The real key here will be to have as many points of evidence to suggest your symptoms make working next to impossible.  This evidence needs to come from valid sources: GP, psychologist, psychiatrist, and supporting documents from similar industry professionals (counsellors, social workers, etc)

- Interview - This is sometimes a phonecall if it's more suitable.  In person is less likely these days I guess. But basically they just check the details on the application line up with what the medical professionals say, and how you present (taking into account, they say, conditions which are cyclical - so the day you present may not be an indication of your condition. But honestly, that bias is hard to remove in my opinion.)  

So... my situation about 10 years ago was that I actually had an evaluation with Centrelink for my alcohol use habits.  I was actually in an interview room with a lady who, after checking all the details, basically offered if I wanted to go on DSP - I balked at the idea, thinking "holy shit, I'm not disabled!" - and opted for a reduction in work capacity instead (15 hours / week).  I figured I'd dodged a bullet there.  

But it seems I was offered the golden goose, which now is so much further beyond reach!  Gah!  

I'll still submit my application though, and who knows. I might get an upgrade.  

If not I'll settle with what I get.  At the end of the day life is too short to be spending it arguing over the semantics of a government form or process.  In fact, it's probably easier to get some light work and just get on with it (or at least make an effort so the job networks aren't riding your ass), than to go through the 18 months of more intensive assistance of a "POS". 

What a Piece Of S...  😂

~ K

[Bow]

Thanks for sharing @KirSa_EnigmA 

thought I would share my experience.

I was on the single parent pension, with my daughter turning 7 last year, meant that centrelink started hounding me to meet their mutual obligations. I handed in medical certificates as I was in no state to look for work or anything. 
In April this year I completed the DSP application online. And yes as you mentioned it was pretty straight forward. 
I have a diagnosed eating disorder and multiple other mental health conditions. 
I then had to submit my supporting documentation, of which I included, 2 seperate psychology reports, an eating disorder treatment plan, multiple pathology reports, about 10 hospital discharges, specialist referral letters, my gp patient information profile…. I think that’s it. I basically went through my medical file I have at home and scanned anything from the last couple of years that related to my disabilities. I had to combine a lot of my hospital discharges and others as you are actually limited to how many documents you can upload. 
That was all submitted the very beginning of April. It said I would have an outcome in July. 

Come October I get a call to arrange a video call with a psychologist to be assessed. I waited for that ‘video call’ on the day and it turned out to be just a phone call- lucky I answered the no caller ID as I was waiting for the video call!

The call lasted less than 5 minutes. She confirmed that all my illnesses impacted on various parts of my daily life. She said that I had provided them with more than enough supporting documentation and then the call was over. 

Maybe 2 weeks later I got a letter saying my application had been approved. Done. 

i was surprised. I was expecting to have to jump through far more hoops and even have an assessment with a psychiatrist. But no. 

[tyme]

That's very helpful @Bow 

Thanks for sharing.

[KirSa_EnigmA]

Hi @Bow, 

Thanks for your reply.  I'm glad you have had success in your claim.  Was that just recently, this year?  

What you've said has filled in a few gaps for me in my situation too.  It seems clear that having the documentation is a great advantage when it comes to having a smooth experience.  I will be spending time tracking down as much as I can to support my condition. But I'm worried that I've not kept much of anything since I've always been a 'fly by the seat of my pants' kind of guy.  Part of my bipolar character, it would seem.  

But I will persist.  Your experience and another member's have given me more confidence than when I wrote my summary this morning.  And my partner here has suggested that there's really nothing to lose.  

If I'm being honest, I do have a tendency to throw my hands in the air and give up when it seems there's no way through.  

I noticed one of the criteria: "work/training capacity. Example: the person has severe difficulty attending work, education or training on a regular basis over a lengthy period due to ongoing mental illness." 

If all the criteria were measured against the "on a regular basis over a lengthy period" then I'll be fine.  

It's just that I go through weeks or months where I'm fine, or even excellent.  But other times I'm either over the top enthusiastic/charasmatic/confident, or I'm shut in the house with the blinds down and lights off for weeks. And this is what does me in. 

So I'm just hoping they don't see me as 'normal' because there's almost 30 years of track record of me being out of sync with the rest of the world.  

Your turnaround took almost 6 months then too?  That's wild. 

I have only 2 diagnosis, but also multiple hospital visits, but no records of them. 

Similarly, I've seen so many counsellors over the years, but have no records of them.  

Not sure really how to approach this.  Maybe there's medicare records of these things?  

I'm really glad you got the support you needed though.  I've been feeling a bit disheartened about it all tbh and the stress of it is not helping.  

But I do feel like I'm finally making some progress toward understanding and doing something about what the hell is going on for me.  

Thanks again for posting. 

~ K

[KirSa_EnigmA]

Thank you @tyme for your support and kind email.

I'll keep this thread updated with my progress. Hopefully it's helpful to someone else who needs to make a claim.

~K

[DogMan79]

Hi @KirSa_EnigmA

It's about ten years since I went through the process. I just wanted to note 2 things:

1: To my understanding, substance use disorders no longer qualify. Or that was the case last time I heard

2: Employer records can also help. Things like employer warning letters and termination letters are good at spelling out in black and white why you are unemployable. They often list all your weaknesses succinctly

[KirSa_EnigmA]

Hi @DogMan79  

Yeah, re: substance abuse, I think you're right.  However, I think it also depends. 

There is definitely section 6 on their assessment tables that addresses substance abuse. 

But my experience is that when the GP gave me a medical cert with my original diagnosis "alcohol use disorder" on it, Centrelink rejected it and said go to rehab/meetings.  Nice, right? 

But, I now have a bipolar 1 diagnosis, and my psychiatrist and I both believe this is the underlying cause of my alcohol use - self medication to reduce mania at it's peak. 

It's personally a relief to know this now.  But I'm sure it's going to be a shit show trying to demonstrate this to anyone. 

I think the system has changed significanlty in the past few years. 

re: employee records... I wonder what my past employer will say.  I'm sure they'll be diplomatic, but it feels kinda slimy digging up dirt on yourself.  I don't have any specific records as when I'm exit employment it's usually dramatic and conclusive - often involving me confronting my boss/management about some injustice or incompetence.  I guess I'm a bit of an ass sometimes 😕 

But we'll see how it goes, I guess. 

Thanks for your reply. 

~ K

[Serenity75]

Hi @KirSa_EnigmA 

It clearly states online that Alcohol/Drug Addiction cannot be used as a reason to apply for the DSP. 
I know from personal experience that Centrelink frown down upon addiction which to me is a complete joke because it goes hand in hand with mental illness and dual diagnosis. I’m just in the process of submitting my application and I am not telling them anything about my past addiction. I’m now a recovered addict but it still played a big factor in the outcome of my mental health issues however I’m not going to chance jeopardising my chances of approval.

TIP:
My psychiatrist told me that should for whatever reason my application is rejected not to worry because he will just appeal their decision and is confident that it will then be approved. 

Thanks for all the advice you gave. It’s such a daunting process so every bit of extra information is helpful. 

- S

[KirSa_EnigmA]

@Serenity75 Hi and thanks for your comment. I've been offline for a while so only just saw your response. 

I have just submitted my claim yesterday actually.  I have not had much option but to disclose my alcohol use disorder diagnosis in my claim forms as it's been discussed in some of the other reports... so, it is what it is I guess. 

I'm glad you have such a supportive psychiatrist.  I've struggled to even get face to face with anyone. I've had a telepsychiatry appointment and have another one lined up at some point to discuss medication but I'll be asking a lot more questions about strategies and advice to approach 'the system' for help.  

You've had some good luck finding someone who'll support you in this way.  

I wonder if you might share your situation a bit more so I can get a bit more of a comparison of our situations?  

Please update your progress too, if you like.  Every bit helps. 

~ K