Disable pension

Hello Neil

Getting a disability pension for a mental illness is very difficult, you have to have a mental illness that is assessed as severe according to their tables, if you google disability pension tables you will find them, the illness has to be diagnosed treated and stablised by a psychiatrist, i think maybe clinical psychologist can do it also, but they can not prescribe medication, you have to have tried all reasonable treatment, stabilised means the illness is stable in its current state, meaning it will not get better in the next two years, it is best to have a psychiatrist help you, and best if the psychiatrist can address the impairment tables in their report and say if they think the illness will or not get better in the next two years.

I feel the same Nell,would love to get a job but worried I could handle the pressure and putting up with people eg:b***** environments,etc.I feel ashamed to be classed as a disability when I feel for those who are so worse off and have the justification for the title.I have been on medical certificates for 10 months because I can't handle the hopelessness and pressure of job seeking with my severe depression and anxiety.Going to a appointment today with a disability job provider.I am worried I'm going to lose benefits because I can't find 20 jobs where I live,and I can't and wont put myself under that pressure- I can't put myself through that.I have applied for four jobs ,that's all that's been on the job sites that I am interested in. Trouble is Nell it is a catch 22,as I am nearly going bonkers at home,where you worry about money and can't get out of bed,the isolation feeds the illness.

Hi @neil,

I am on disability since 2009. I had to go for it twice, as I was turned down the first time. My diagnosis is bipolar. I'm 54 and had previously been on and off Newstart and Sickness Allowance most of my adult life (in between I had about 50 jobs that led to multiple breakdowns).

Being on disability has made a big improvement in my life because I am no longer so extremely on edge financially. It pays a lot more than Newstart and has better health and transport discounts. So I think it is worth going for. I had support from both my regular GP and a psychiatrist for my application.

From the time I applied the first time until they granted the pension was 18 months for me.

Best wishes with this.

Hello Li1

if you are going to an interview with a disability job provider, you do have some say in what you can and can't do, above all they can not make you work if it would be unsafe in a oh&s way, there is also something about not making your condition worse, the info is a little hard to find and I can't put my hand on it just now, you might have to google a few searches.

Hello Li1

Something else I might add is as you probably know, centrelink and the job agencies has no interest in getting you better, only in getting you a job, they are not paid to help your condition, they will say and perhaps give you a pamphlet on how work is good for your mental health and that may be true for less severe mental illness.

thank guys for feedback.