DSP

Hello @ClockFace

We are both on the DSP

And once you apply with centrelink, you have to get as much information as you can from specialists, doctors, psychiatrist and to send them all to centrelink

It takes months , you need to be patience because it seems to take a long time

Sometimes you will be rejected the first try , but they give you more time to gather more information for them

And sometimes they will ask if you want to go on jobseeker payments

Always think of you worse days ever when you are filling out the forms

You can still work on the DSP but less hours are expected

Please ask me any questions you may have

Here for you , have my fingers crossed 🤞 for you xx

Hey @ClockFace

I applied for and was granted dsp last year. I provided them with just about every piece of documentation I had. I had a great supporting letter from my psychologist and dietitian. They both understood what they needed to report. I had referral letters, copies of health care plans, all my hospital discharge summaries, pathology reports and goodness knows what else. They only allow you to upload a certain amount of documents so I combined a number of similar ones when I scanned them.

I submitted everything in the April. Come September I got a letter saying I needed to have an appointment with a psychologist. It was to be via a video call, but she ended up calling me. The call was 5 mins, confirming how much my disabilities impact my day and that was about it. She said that I provided them with so much information and she didn’t need to know anything else. My disability support pension was then approved in October.

I was expecting to be rejected and have to provide more info. I was also expecting to have an appointment with one of their psychiatrist. But no.

it’s worth a try.

goodluck

Way to go @Bow 🥰

@ClockFace

For my DSP, I was like you and was approved the first time last year xx

My husband's took a little bit longer , he did it in October and was approved in march this year

@ClockFace If you're in any doubt, call centrelink and ask for a social worker to take you through anything that you need to go through the requirements for the DSP. From what I understand, you can't work or study for more than 15 hours a week for 2 years and you need support letters stating that. After that two years, you can work up to 29 hours a week. Do check with Centrelink on that information though. I'd really like to hear about what you happen to find as I am training to become a peer worker and any information on what is out there is of so much value to me.

Much love,

Elspeth.

It was suggest to me to apply for DPS last October after speaking to a woman at Services Australia after I had a couple of 3 month exemptions while undergoing multiple treatments for prostate cancer. She told me the things I should focus on when getting medical evidence for my application, which funnily enough had nothing to do with the cancer, just one particular side effect from the surgery.

Six months later it was granted. I still don't really understand the process and what gets you approved and what doesn't. So i'd suggest asking around and finding out what specifically you should focus on in your application, it may be something that you wouldn't think was the priority.