Disability Interview

[seaofdreams]

Today I am going for a Job Capacity Assessment because I have put in a claim for Disability Support Pension. I'm not going on it because I don't want to work but it's really going to be more of a backup, in the chance that sometimes I may not be able to work so I can still have some sort of income. Also it'll be really nice to have a Discount Health Care Card so I can get my medications and GI appointments for much cheaper.

The interview will be one-on-one with someone who may or may not be a health care professional and they have a form filled out by my doctor explaining the details of my disease. It's scary because this person is essentially who will decide if I am "sick enough" to qualify for the payments.

I'm really nervous about it. I'm worried that I won't be able to really translate how I feel into words. Telling someone that I'm tired all the time and I get D almost daily doesn't quite explain just how soul-crushingly exhausted I can get or how horrible it is to know that I have approximately 2.5seconds to get to a toilet or it's going to be a disaster. I'm also concerned that the assessor won't know enough about Crohn's to understand how unpredictable and life-altering it can be.

Have you had any experiences with these types of interviews and if so, how did it go?

 

[dustydshook]

I haven't but have been thinking of applying myself. So I would be interested in knowing how it goes for you.

 

[SpoonNinja]

uh well im in the us so i dun no if i is the same in aussie but theres a website for disability applicants in my area and crohns is one of the automatic you get it thing, im not getting it yet tho cuz ii wanna work, ill post the link it may b helpful to you but if not maybe it will to someone else!^-^

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/5.00-Digestive-Adult.htm#5_06

skip down to 5.06 thats where it talks about

 

[seaofdreams]

I am back from the interview, it went really well. The lady interviewing me was a young psychologist and she had done some research on Crohn's before I came in which was excellent. The whole time she just kept saying "you poor thing" so I think she got it

 

[shazamataz]

Sounds like it went well Nicci - YAY!

Still sucks to have to think about being on 'disability' though. I don;t know what your system is like there (I expect similar to ours), but it is one which can trap a person and make it impossible to get ahead.

I am on what they call the Invalid's benefit here and work 15 hours a week. Anything over that and they start to ask questions - 15 is the cut off point. The hard part is that if I wanted to get a little extra money by working a wee bit more, they take so much off the benefit that it may actually COST me to go to work (petrol/parking etc) for an extra shift! I worked out that if I did an extra 5 hour day, by the time tax and benefit was cut off I would earn apprixomately $3.90 extra!!! It is so frustrating because I'd like to do more and have more to cope with the bills as living alone is very expensive!

So, vent over, I hope the system in Oz is a little more helpful.

Hope the imuran etc doing well for you

Shaz

 

[seaofdreams]

It's feels a little odd to be putting in a claim for "disability." That sounds exactly like it is over here. Anything over 15 hours and you get penalised but like I said, it's more of a fall-back plan and I'm just looking foward to the discounted medications and health care

 

[Peggy]

Well done, glad it went well, hope you get the dissability payments you deserve. People need to try this disease to see how much fun it is.Peggy

 

[fromthegut]

Odsp

It is difficult here in Ontario Canada also. It is more benficial for me to do volunteer work. Less stress and I get to choose my hours. It's very rewadring also.
Thankfully I am in remission. I am doign pretty well. I'd still like to know how I can earn some money without being penalized so much. For me anything over $200 a month and I think they take .50 of every dollar.
You are right it would cost me to wrok. I am bored and I like being around people. Also the extra dolalrs would be wodnerful. Maybe I'll start my own business again. Maybe I just have to accpt that this is my life. Which it doesn't feel liek I am prepared to do at the moment.

 

[shazamataz]

You could always do some 'under the table' work which is what I think a lot of people do here. just hope not to get caught!

 

[fromthegut]

I think that is what i will do. I did a little job tonight for a few dollars. it felt good. I'd still like to ahve a wee job. I guess I just have to wrok my way back. It is always much slower than I'd like.

 

[shazamataz]

good to hear. I have a wee cleaning job that helps me out. I started it 10 years ago when at university and just kept it on, even when i was working nearly full time. They are a great family and I am going to their daughters wedding next month - as well as doing the wedding photos (another way to gte some extra sneaky cash!)

 

[seaofdreams]

I have been granted the disability pension. It surprised me how fast it was put through actually. If you're having any doubts, I say go for it, it's always good to have an income to fall back on if you're unable to work.

 

[Chrohn's Chick]

seaofdreams, I am considering applying for the same thing. can you advise how to go about this here in aus? Is that through centrelink? I'm concerned I'm too young. the guidelines online were a bit odd, but it seems you have to be 21 and over and working full time (i'm not) or 25 and studying full time (not yet). that was odd... anyways, what shall I do?

 

[seaofdreams]

I'm 20 and I applied for Disability Support Pension through Centrelink. I just went in there and they gave me a paskage of forms to fill out including a Medical Report for your GP to fill out, a Disability Form for you to fill out and an Income and Assets form to make sure you're not earning too much to qualify. You have to be assessed as not able to work more than 15 hours per week for the payment to be granted.

 

[Chrohn's Chick]

oh, great, thanks! i'll have to give them a buzz!

 

[mharvey90]

seaofdreams, i understand. i'm 19 years old and a sophomore in college. i am currently trying to get some accommodations for exam taking. i am meeting tomorrow with somebody from the office of disability services, and i'm really nervous. i feel the same way, that telling someone that i might have to run to the bathroom, or get sick to my stomach, is gonna make them look at me like i'm just trying to find excuses for myself. =/ good luck though, i hope it goes well for you