Centrelink will not accept my medical Certificate

[Tonyw]

I have got Anxiety And Depression And Centrelink will not accept my medical Certificate after 1 year now they are stuff me around they say you can work 15+h and that`s it. I been cut off 4 times not turning up. any know what i can do?

[SchizoPanda]

The Dept of Human Services need to wake up and stop being so out of touch with the fact that any mental illness can be debilitating and incapacitate someone. People are still discriminated against, myself included, when it comes to financial support when an incapacitated state is apparent. It is ironic that to everyone else in your life you are incapacitated but Dept staff and the assessor who are supposed to make an accurate assessment on functional impairment fail to do so. It also doesn't surprise me that this is the case.

There are many people in the Centrelink system who exploit it. The same people who do nothing to help themselves.

Then you get people who are really struggling financially due to having an illness rendering them incapable of getting and holding a job at this point in time or permanently, have done just about everything to manage the illnesses, want to work but understand the reality of it actually happening, who are ignored.

I believe that it is in the Department's best interest to implement a Mental Illness (Incapacitated) Payment which does not have the same restrictions of all mainstream payments. Mental illness, it's economic and public health effects are so widespread that you wouldn't believe it's reach.

[bob__paul]

same here !!! from 6 years i am undermedication , and Submitted all Medicals for GP, Psychiatrist and others .

But for NO reason Centerlink rejected my claims . I think the Managers of Centerlinks Get Bonus Points and Increments in their Big Fat Pay packets for Not giving out DSP !!!!

[sparhawk29]

firstly i wish to state that any and all decisions centrelink makes is because of the federal government. whether labor or liberal, they're the ones that make our lives hard. the people at the office finally get used to a system, only to have some clown freshly voted in make drastic and rather heavy handed changes, only to suddenly have the person learning the system start all over again and make our lives harder still. it isn't just DSP that suffers regarding these changes, and too many people not sick have exploited the system. that means when legitimate people like the posters here go for the DSP, the rejections start.. it sucks and i hate it, but that's what is happening. remember that at the polling booth next time the federal guys want your vote.

i'm currently thinking of applying, not so much for anxiety/depression, but i'm in agony physically, can barely move etc... and i reckon i'll end up with depression because of the trouble i'm going to have. it isn't a good fight, when you aren't well, and you need support, and you cannot get it because of 20 points on one joint etc.... it's also not going to change in a hurry sadly. it's worse too as there's no way i could pass a medical in my condition, yet i'm still having to apply for all them jobs.

hopefully the system changes and becomes fairer some time soon, because so many people being rejected when they need that support is just wrong.

[Lady_Nova]

The struggle is real. My eldest, 25, has rapid cycling bi-polar and two forms of chronic insomnia. After 5 days without sleep he has psychotic breaks. To top it off when his dosage of mood stabiliser was increased his liver decided to try dying. I have NEVER seen anyone so sick. So here he was under the care of a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a sleep specialist, a GP and a hepatologist all declaring he was unable to work ... but because he was taken off his meds to save his liver, he was no longer being "fully treated and stable" so nope go look for work you lazy slacker!
He is currently having better days and is trying to do a cert 4 via OTEN, but he really should be on DSP ... It sucks.
I fear the better days stopping ... psychosis isnt pretty

[1_mantis]

This is very true , I have been trying for the last ten years now to get dsp, it gets refused every six months . My friend has a son who is a drug addict and Centrelink had no problem seeing him fit for a pension . The problem is the government is pushing Centrelink and I just pray that no one else here has to deal with Janice from Caboolture Centrelink, her only concern is getting people to go to work even if they suffer , I have often thought of having them sign a form or forcing me back to work so I have someone to sue after I have a traffic accident on the way to work or back

[Tonyw]

well I have not work now for 7 years but no change to centrelink

[Rob851]

Sorry but your statement that if your on disability and under 35 you need to look for. I’m currently 33 and on disability pension and don’t have to go to job providers or anything.

it was a tough fight, I was on Newstart allowance for 4 years because I fought. In the end the pissed me so much I fought hard right back and won.

yes its true you can only be on Newstart allowance and not work for4 years but there is a way to do it.

if the op sees this I suggest Try another certificate from your doctor which must say “exacerbation” of current condition and see how you go.

if not then you apply for disability pension as by law Centrelink has to pay you Newstart and you are expempt from work. This usually takes 3 months so you will get a breather from them. Also make sure you see a doc and physiatrist often

there’s other tricks so message me if you need help

[Craig_m]

Wow .. was I surprised to see see all this on hear. Is this all causing people anxiety and depression. I've had the same problems. My doctor refused to use the word exacerbation said it was ridiculous. In recent times I've been advised to seek legal advice about all this. That was from commonwealth ombudsmen. And my job provider. Don't know anything about seeking .legal advice .probably take some sort of class action to sort this out. I'll go see a lawyer if we can round up some others.pretty bloody hard when everyone is depressed and sick. Government should be ashamed. When they so vehemently promote good mental health.

[Craig_m]

I was getting over the centrelink dsp and the way I was treated. They caused me so much grief. And now I see other people going through the same. I'm going to cut loose here and try to explain how I got close to self harm than ever before. My physical problems are diabetes. Diabetic nurophathy Peripheral vascular disease, diffuse Spondylotic Change Lumbar Spine. Bilateral hip conditions. Torn meniscus. All those together can only walk about 5mins legs completely gone. Plus all the depression and anxiety the pain causes.refuse to exempt me from mutual obligations because of legislation . Would not give any assistance into how I should apply for dsp.resulted in a claim taking 16months. Advised me to keep supplying medical information for the claim. When in fact they only review what's in the original claim. Made me go through freedom of information act to find what impairment points. In fact got none. Rejected because conditions not fully diagnosed treated or stabilized. By this time I've been rushed to the doctor thinking I was having a heart attack. Major panic attack. They recently told me the AAT appeal could take twelve months. I believe they are using every delaying tactic. Something needs to be held accountable for the mh problems being caused. It's not only on this site . It's everywhere. Probably why I've been advised to seek legal advice to seek legal advice by the commonwealth ombudsmen and my job provider. Might just get my obsessive nature focused on this. Could help countless people. One very nice politician sent me a copy of the impairment tables . Easiest way to get Dsp is drug or alcohol addiction I know there both diseases.surely this causes people struggling to get a Dsp more depression every time they thinkI of it.this project will keep me happy for awhile.

[Foot]

Tips I have garnered over the years which might help someone:

get your GP to use Centrelink form SU415

you can then upload it to their website

Under "Is this condition" you should say "temporary exacerbation of a permanent condition"

Prognosis - MUST be under 24 months (eg 3-12 months)

Can the patient do any other work for 8 hours or more - NO

If any of these answers are different, the form won't be accepted.

Don't forget that a GP's signed form is a legal document.