Ditto to what I was going to say. Money cannot buy happiness, it can only buy things that make you happy.
Money and Happiness
- Thread starter Gryffindorian
- Start date
Miss Chicken, has obviously been assessed and meets the criteria (I do not imagine they give out free money to anyone who asks anywhere in the world). If the above is your true opinion, why were you on her case in the first place?
"It wouldn't happen in my country" is like saying the Thai Lotus Throwing Festival doesn't happen in my country... So? What does that have to do with the price of lettuce? Is your country the world's benchmark or something?
Not only was I assessed but my case is reassessed every two years.
This is how I came to get Disability Support Pension.
I was diagnosed with arthritis in 1992 at the age of 34. During the next few years it wasn't too much of a problem as it was helped by NSAIDS (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). The following year my asthma was diagnosed. At that stage I was a smoker but I gave up when the asthma was diagnosed.
When I became unemployed in 1998 I had to mention to Centrelink (the Social Security department) that I had health problems. I was told to apply for a Disability Pension though I had, at that no chance of getting it. However applying would allow me to access certain services even without the pension being granted.
The pension wasn't granted but Centrelink informed me that the recognised that my conditions were a barrier to work and they assigned be a Disabilty Officer. He sent me to the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service (CRS). The CSR suggested that I retrain and help me choose to do the library trchnician course.
I went onto Austudy (payment for students) for two years while I studied full-time. Due to major course changes in the library during the middle of my study my two year course sort of became a longer course as some units I did were discarded and new units were added. I started getting temporary jobs and continued to fitting in my remianing units around my work.
After getting my diploma Centrelink sent me back to CRS. CRS got me a month long traineeship in a small government library. The librarian was imprtessed by me enough to create a four month project for me (cataloging 100 years of geologists notebook). This librarian was very accomodating of my health problems. I worked for three days a week which meant I earned enough to go off any government benefits but I was entitled to a low-income health card (which not only means free health care for me, but allowed to get a reduction in other things such as busfares).
After finishing that job I got another temporary job (14 weeks fulltime). At the end of that job it was obvious that my health had declined. I was in a lot of pain, my asthma had worsened seriously and I was suffering from nausea and vomiting nearly every day.
The doctor ordered some test and it was deternined that I was allergic to the NSAIDs. Not only were they causing the stomach problems but were behind the asthma getting worse. The doctor said I could no longer be given NSAIDS because my asthma was a life threatening condition whereas arthritis, though painful, wasn't life threantening. Without NSAIDS my arthritis became worse and worse. Once only in both ankle and one knee, it spread to my second knee and hip and later it was determined I also had arthritis in my left shoulder. Recently it has showed up in a couple of my fingers.
I worked at a few more temporary jobs but eventually, in 2006, my CSR caseworker recommended I apply for the Disabilty Support Pension again. I said I didn't think I would get it, she told me she was 100% certain I would so I applied.
My doctor sent in a Treating Doctors Report, and I had to also fill in a form explaining problems I had. I was then given a Work Assessment Test which was about an hour long interview. I was asked not only about how I managed work but also many questions about my day-to-day life and how I coped with things there. I was asked to show how I used steps, what did I do when I was in pain etc.
Without any problem I was granted the DSP.
My pension is reviewed every two years. I had a review late last year. Once again I was sent to for work assessment test. I was assessed at being able to work 0-7 hours a week which is well under the 15 or less needed to recived DSP.
I am currently working with a case worker to try and get a job two or three mornings a week which I thing I might be able to cope with.
This is how I came to get Disability Support Pension.
I was diagnosed with arthritis in 1992 at the age of 34. During the next few years it wasn't too much of a problem as it was helped by NSAIDS (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). The following year my asthma was diagnosed. At that stage I was a smoker but I gave up when the asthma was diagnosed.
When I became unemployed in 1998 I had to mention to Centrelink (the Social Security department) that I had health problems. I was told to apply for a Disability Pension though I had, at that no chance of getting it. However applying would allow me to access certain services even without the pension being granted.
The pension wasn't granted but Centrelink informed me that the recognised that my conditions were a barrier to work and they assigned be a Disabilty Officer. He sent me to the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service (CRS). The CSR suggested that I retrain and help me choose to do the library trchnician course.
I went onto Austudy (payment for students) for two years while I studied full-time. Due to major course changes in the library during the middle of my study my two year course sort of became a longer course as some units I did were discarded and new units were added. I started getting temporary jobs and continued to fitting in my remianing units around my work.
After getting my diploma Centrelink sent me back to CRS. CRS got me a month long traineeship in a small government library. The librarian was imprtessed by me enough to create a four month project for me (cataloging 100 years of geologists notebook). This librarian was very accomodating of my health problems. I worked for three days a week which meant I earned enough to go off any government benefits but I was entitled to a low-income health card (which not only means free health care for me, but allowed to get a reduction in other things such as busfares).
After finishing that job I got another temporary job (14 weeks fulltime). At the end of that job it was obvious that my health had declined. I was in a lot of pain, my asthma had worsened seriously and I was suffering from nausea and vomiting nearly every day.
The doctor ordered some test and it was deternined that I was allergic to the NSAIDs. Not only were they causing the stomach problems but were behind the asthma getting worse. The doctor said I could no longer be given NSAIDS because my asthma was a life threatening condition whereas arthritis, though painful, wasn't life threantening. Without NSAIDS my arthritis became worse and worse. Once only in both ankle and one knee, it spread to my second knee and hip and later it was determined I also had arthritis in my left shoulder. Recently it has showed up in a couple of my fingers.
I worked at a few more temporary jobs but eventually, in 2006, my CSR caseworker recommended I apply for the Disabilty Support Pension again. I said I didn't think I would get it, she told me she was 100% certain I would so I applied.
My doctor sent in a Treating Doctors Report, and I had to also fill in a form explaining problems I had. I was then given a Work Assessment Test which was about an hour long interview. I was asked not only about how I managed work but also many questions about my day-to-day life and how I coped with things there. I was asked to show how I used steps, what did I do when I was in pain etc.
Without any problem I was granted the DSP.
My pension is reviewed every two years. I had a review late last year. Once again I was sent to for work assessment test. I was assessed at being able to work 0-7 hours a week which is well under the 15 or less needed to recived DSP.
I am currently working with a case worker to try and get a job two or three mornings a week which I thing I might be able to cope with.
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^ You shouldn't have to explain your personal affairs to perfect strangers. He/she was out of line. I think you are a fine and honest member of this community, and I do not begrudge you what little help you get. I wish you all the best with your health.
I don't mind explaining how the Australian social security system works. I think it is a reasonably compassionate system that doesn't just give away money to just anyone. They work with people, and encourage people and provide support in many different ways.
For example, if a do get a job I have 1000 working credits to my name. This means that Centrelink ignored the first $1000 I earn and it doesn't effect my payments. It is a buffer to stop people suffering because of a sudden drop in government benefits when they start working.
Also I am entitled to a governemt allowance to buy new clothes if I start working - something I wouldn't need but some people do.
Any employer willing to take me on knowing that I a disability are entitled to payments from the government while they are training me.
I certainly think it is better than the American system (at least from what people have told me about the system in the US).
Yea ok...I wasn't attacking her.
Sounds contradictory to me. It's better to say that money has the capacity to make a person happy, but having lots of it does not necessarily guarantee happiness for others.
