Mental Health and Centrelink Issues

[Deactivated] on 24/02/2017 - 01:46
Last edited 24/02/2017 - 16:07 by 1 other user

Hey,

This thread is a about a friend of mine and the problems he is having in his life at the moment.

He's has been through some heavy shit over the past years. Witnessing somebody being killed which was fairly recent, huge amount of domestic violence over probably 10 years and psychological abuse (gaslighting etc) - the list can go on. He is 25 and has never held a job longer than a few months due to the reasons previously listed. It's hard for him to work around others, most of the jobs have been dish pigs and mindless stuff like that to try and build skills to get back into society but failing to advance.

He's been on newstart for about 2 years and until about a month ago has had his payments suspended and is struggling to keep the wolves at bay (he is living in a caravan at my place - i do charge him $50 a week for rent) but he receives about $400~? a fortnight which just covers his food/bills/travel expenses to doctor appointments etc. He doesn't drink, smoke or do drugs and has zero social life (obviously). He had been seeing a psychologist for the past 6 months but I personally think it was making the problem worse, some of the things he has told me in his previous "life" are terrible and bringing them up each week was not doing him any good. The drugs she was feeding him were turning him into a emotionless blob of human skin. These were not helping with his severe anxiety and depression but I am no professional. I recommended to see a psychiatrist as they are more suited to what he has got. The few tests his GP has done it's pointing towards bipolar disorder as his father was in "ward 9" for 2 years including having schizophrenia. There's been suicide attempts, none of that cutting of the wrist crap, actual near death stuff.

Okay enough of that… getting to the point. According to Centrelink and his job service provider (matchworks) he is fit to work, despite actual medical evidence and professionals saying otherwise. They rejected his application for DSP on grounds they think he can work 12 hours per week.

How does a person in this position live life? or should he just jump off a bridge and save the tax payer money?

• 

  activ8newbs on 24/02/2017 - 02:56

  +2

  This is really tough. I have no value-add except that, if he has any debts etc, he should speak with the respesctive banks, to see if there is anything they can do to help.

• 

  Wystri Warrick on 24/02/2017 - 04:06

  Sorry to hear about your friend, I'm completely speechless :(

• 

  shaybisc on 24/02/2017 - 07:31

  +1

  I saw a bloke on The Project that they rejected for DSP. He had been a truck driver most of his working life- had his right arm amputated- stroke and other medical issues- "You're good to go, sir. Work at Maccas."

• 

  [Deactivated] on 24/02/2017 - 10:06

  Yeah I understand this might not be the best place to ask but yeah I'm just trying to help him whilst centrelink are being so unhelpful

• 

  Belgarath on 24/02/2017 - 10:34

  +1

  Ive worked for DHS and my partner currently does as well. You have absolute buckley's of getting DSP based on Mental Health grounds. Fair? Not at all. But the Government is cracking down on DSP recipients and thus the super stringent if not impossible rules they impose. Even providing a medical certificate has turned into a nightmare.

  I absolutely feel for your friend. Unfortunately the 'abusers' of DSP have destroyed it for everyone else.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 24/02/2017 - 16:33

    Indeed, his GP was providing medical certs but the last one was rejected as it had similar reasons as the one before. Hence the payment cut now.

• 

  try2bhelpful on 24/02/2017 - 12:14

  The Government needs to stand up and look after people like your friend. They seem to find money so the ministers can go on study tours and employ their endless contractors as "advisors" but seem to cast people in the "too hard basket" on the heap. The Government needs to find a way to differentiate between the abusers and the genuine cases, because using that as an excuse just goes to show how incompetant they are. They certainly need to hire further people to work for Centrelink so they can have a proper look at people's cases rather than a cursory glance and then cut people off. The algorithm they are using at the moment is laughable. Is it possible for your friend to get a different psychiatrist. I'm not a mental health expert but, generally, these issues are deeply entrenched and there is no quick fix; Society needs to be more caring and realise that all you can do is support people.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 24/02/2017 - 16:36

    He has begun seeing a new psychiatrist it seems to be going well but it's only early stages at the moment (a few weeks at best), he is like a harry potter book, it's a long time to get to core of the problems of which he hasn't even told me and don't expect him to.

    • 

      try2bhelpful on 24/02/2017 - 18:25

      +1

      You are a real friend, make sure you look after yourself whilst you are helping him.

• 

  iratepirate on 24/02/2017 - 15:35

  They don't like giving a pension for mental health reasons because they know if you aren't as nutty as a squirrel's turd when you start dealing with them you will be by the time they're done.

  I was getting family tax benefit as a single father that still works. They cut this to the minimum payment because my Ex has never given me a cent for the baby?? I drove 100km+ to sort it out, only to be told that the issue was too complex for them to deal with and I had to phone child support and then phone clink with a incident number, and it should only take me 3 or 4 hours on the phone. If the money was for me I wouldn't have bothered.

  Tell your mate to turn up at the job provider for 12 hours a week through their mania and depression, and when they call the police to get rid of them head to the clink and do the same thing - lets see how quick they change their tune.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 24/02/2017 - 16:32

    He had an issue when he first went to matchworks, the offices were in 360deg glass rooms and locked the door when they were interviewing him - even my self would find that a little odd, can't imagine what it was like for somebody who is insecure. Despite what he had read about them online he didn't expect the interview to go well anyway (lack of human skills outlined on some reddit posts). He asked to take a break for fresh air but refused and it got a bit messy.. he had a panic attack (they tried to hold him down and called security as he was yelling - he did nothing physical). He had an attempt a few days later after that interview I would say it was triggered by how he was treated there, as you can imagine he never wants to go back to a job service provider again.

    It is looking like he will just have to force himself to these appointments and work for the dole program, I just hope he doesn't get pushed too far again.

    • 

      iratepirate on 24/02/2017 - 17:00

      Go with him as a support person - you are lawfully entitled to record covertly on your phone. They tried to hold him down? That's called assault. Make a police complaint.

      The more trouble he causes the more they will want to get rid of him. He needs to turn up there without an appointment, start using the computers to "update his resume" ; type for half an hour have a rest for an hour, start again. You are the voice of reason stopping him from getting arrested and explaining "this is just how he is" - if he can't last 2 hours here how can he last 12 hours in a work place?

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 24/02/2017 - 17:03

        Hmm fair point, i'll chat to him and see if he wants to give this a go.

• 

  DarthAntz on 24/02/2017 - 17:12

  +1

  Is there an interest in mental health that your friend has, and can he volunteer with a related aide organisation or care facility? perhaps look to find an opportunity (by writing a letter, phoning a care facility in your area) volunteering with others who need help in an environment that is suitable. sure its volunteering, but its getting involved in an industry and its not doing nothing. i dont have any experience but i'd ask if the volunteering work could count towards employment, and help qualify for allowance.

• 

  trustnoone on 24/02/2017 - 17:38

  I don't work for centrelink so I could be very wrong but I'll say what I believe happens (I could be very wrong). First off a few years back (like June 2016) they've changed a lot of how the system in place, what this essentially means is that it got a lot harder for everyone on centrelink, especially people with a disability, the idea of getting disability support pension is: what I've heard some people say "close to impossible now".

  I could be wrong but a big part of the problem is that your friend has worked before, as such they can prove he /can/ work and so won't get support pension anymore.

  I hear though that volunteering can count towards it, so it might be something he can look into sometime that doesn't have that pressure that other places have.

  I have a feeling though you can get through on medical certificates, I hear they take 3x3 months worth of certificates before they get rejected, after that you need a medical from a specialist instead, so you may want to look at getting a specialist to look into it? They should really be able to see whats best for him, what he should be doing and hopefully take things from there.

  • 

    Britmavis on 20/06/2022 - 12:42

    This I had to apply for DSP just after the rules changed for a stroke I suffered at birth that I was starting to feel the effects of… Took me 4 goes because I was 20 and hadn't need the help before..

    Never mind the fact I was on DSP as a baby and my mum earned too much… It was exhausting

• 

  Ughhh on 24/02/2017 - 18:43

  +1

  How does a person in this position live life? or should he just jump off a bridge and save the tax payer money?

  It's very unfortunate what happened in the past, history can't be changed, but the future can. 25 years of age is way too young to give up on happiness and life. Even if Centrelink didn't cut the payment and he had no money issues, he would still have the same underlying issues.

  It doesn't sound like he has found a way to cope with it positively, but at least he hadn't turned to alcohol and drugs. I vote for volunteering too, helping other disadvantaged people would help him understand that he's not alone. On top of that, I think it would improve his self esteem and sense of self worth as well as various other employable skills. Perhaps participating in meetings too (similar to the AA meetings, but not sure what's it's called).

• 

  itajac on 24/02/2017 - 19:39

  Hi OP
  Have you tried contacting Headspace 1800 367 968. They may be of help, can't hurt to try and see if they can connect you with services that may help support your friend.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 25/02/2017 - 01:25

  Thanks for the comments so far, I'm sure one day he will get going again but for the time being he needs little trouble in his life to focus on working on the issues he has. Centrelink/matchworks are needed but at the same time not helping the situation. I offered him rent free but he said it would be good idea to pay something at least so it's to get into the swing of bills etc.

  I will be going to his job service provider with him next weekend and Centrelink, and we'll go from there. He was doing this all on his own before so he might not of been asking the right questions or putting his foot down etc.

• 

  anastasiastarz on 03/03/2017 - 03:12

  Is he working on improving? It sounds like rehab might help.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 03/03/2017 - 16:15

    It's getting better but we live in the country and there is nothing available here without needing to relocate. Had a meeting with centrelinks social worker and has really been an eye opener. They had a communication breakdown between matchworks and centrelink, nothing was passed on from matchworks to centrelink. They weren't even aware of him having any medical issues (lol???).

    I was told by the social worker to report them to the Department of Employment.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 08/04/2017 - 19:34

  +2

  I thought I might give an update on this.

  He is now on the DSP and is working on his recovery, seeing a support group 2-3 times a week which are getting him involved with community projects which he is really enjoying. Long road ahead but it's good that centrelink are finally off his back in regards to that and now can focus on rebuilding his life.

  • 

    iratepirate on 23/04/2017 - 14:30

    Good to hear you got a reasonable outcome. I eventually got child support too….$15.86 per month I send it back to her on principal.

• 

  norman52 on 16/05/2018 - 01:32

  Hmmm…
  I have now been on 3 monthly Centrelink medical certificates for 41/2 years now.
  Go figure…