Do you think I would qualify for disability pension with these conditions?

[maglincer]

Hi all, I am a 28 year old male who has lived with general anxiety disorder, tourettes syndrome, OCD, major depression and undiagnosed misophonia for nearly my whole life with some of these getting even worse the past few years.

Basically I havent worked in 4 years because of it and even my whole working life ive been unable to hold a job due to depression and I can't see any way out of this other than getting on the NDIS.

I rang them last week and they said I may be able to get on the NDIS with the conditions that I have. So I applied over the phone and now I have to fill out a form with my doctor when it arrived likely next week.

What I would like to know is do I have any chance of getting approved and does anyone have any tips on what I should say in the forms they send me? Thanks.

[PamelaR]

Hello Maglincer and welcome to Beyond Blue forums

Pleased you've found your way to our community of caring, friendly, supportive and non judgmental people.

I'm not a health professional, nor do I have experience with either Centrelink or NDIS. However, being an employee of various governments throughout Oz for a very long time, my thoughts are it's best to tell the truth. Have you been going to the same doctor for these conditions for awhile now? I'd think this should help.

I'd imagine that living with those disorders - GAD, tourettes, major depression, OCD and undiagnosed misophonia would make functioning in a work environment challenging. So there would be no difficulties at all in filling out the forms.

Who do you have to talk and to help you through the process? For example a close family member or trusted friend?

Keep reaching out to us Maglincer, if and when you want to. You're not alone.

Kind regards

PamelaR

[Jigsaw9]

Thank you Pamela for your post, definitely honesty is the best policy

Maglincer

May you be given the strength and and support you need to deal with your dilemma. Keep a record of anything health related that may be used as evidence to support your case. Any correspondence you have with doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists etc. Also ask them (the health professionals) to give you an update in the meantime so that you may inform third parties of your progress to help the application process. Remember to say anything that you feel will support your application and remember it must be honest. We live in a very fortunate country where we can access assistance through avenues like the NDIS in our time of need.

Hope this helps

[maglincer]

Thanks everyone.

[geoff]

Hello Maglincer, sorry I'm late in responding to you and pleased PamelaR and Jigsaw have replied.

I haven't got too much to say just agree with what has been said.

The good part is that you have been told you have a good chance of getting onto NDIS with the conditions you have because I too suffer from OCD, depression and misophonia and receive the DSP.

Your doctor should be behind you all the way.

Maybe something has happened in the last few days and perhaps you can let us know.

Geoff.

[maglincer]

Thanks for the reply Geoff. I saw my GP today and he said I need to get a psychiatrist opinion and get him to fill out the forms I was sent. Ive seen this psychiatrist before and he has mentioned getting the pension if I am unable to work because of my conditions. Hopefully I can get an appointment before the 28 days is up. Can I ask you whether you were initially accepted for the disability pension recently or have you been on it a long time. The reason I ask is because Ive read that the NDIS is more strict in the last few years and are filtering out some of the applicants because they "aren't severe enough" which is something I am worried about. Also could you tell me what condition was the main one that got you the disability pension? My GP told me the only one he thinks I have is the depression but I feel anxiety and misophonia and my tourettes syndrome are just as crippling. Thanks for your help.

[geoff]

Hi Maglincer, thanks for your reply.

If you can't get this appointment with the psychiatrist before the 28 days are up, then contact NDIS and let them know, they should be able to extend the date, but try not to leave it to the last minute, and explain the reason.

I wasn't put on DSP straight away, I was put on a 'Sickness Benefit' as I sustained a life long injury from an assault at work, as well as undiagnosed depression, thankfully my ( ex) wife, was with me because all I did was cry at Centrelink.

It was then a few years later I was transferred onto DSP when my doctor diagnosed all of these conditions and treating for depression.

The illnesses you have I totally know what you have to suffer from, so please let me know.

Good Luck.

Geoff.

[maglincer]

Im having trouble working out who fills out the paperwork. My GP says my psychiatrist is supposed to fill it out and the psychiatrist says the GP should. Who fills it out?

[geoff]

Hi Maglincer, with the paperwork, there is much you can fill out yourself, such as name, address, CRN number etc., then all your doctor has to do is fill out the important information, sign it, along with your signature.

That's what my GP has done recently on another form for me.

Your psychiatrist normally sends a report to your GP indicating their diagnosis and what medication they have put you on, this is attached to your form and sent off.

There seems to be difficulty with either of them wanting to do the hard paper work, normally if you have a long relationship with your doctor there isn't a problem, but in reality, they have to be filled out so you can claim.

Geoff.

[maglincer]

Hi all. Last Saturday I went to my psychiatrist and he is going to help me try to get onto the disability pension. He told me he will write a report for me to send to centrelink. I called centrelink today to apply for the disability support pension and they are sending out the paperwork. In the meantime they have put me on the newstart allowance. Are we allowed to get one of them sickness certificates from a GP to exclude me from work for 3 months? If so can it come from a GP or must it come from a psychiatrist. Thanks.