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They treat me as if im not human

soulsolaris
Wed, 06 Dec 2017 15:53:17 GMT

I have been on newstart for many many years. Im also on a reduced capacity to work.. 8-15 hours. This is due to chronic illnesses such as depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Every appointment i am told to apply for dsp despite me saying that is not possible at this time due to not having enough treatments or evidence to be approved. My exhaustion levels have gotten worse over the past few years to the point of being mostly home bound. Ive missed some appointments due to the up and down nature of this illness but despite that.. they dont care. There have also been once or twice that i missed appointments due to a failure on their end.. but im the one that looks bad. Recently the person i was seeing at my job provider left.. Now she looked the other way withme coming in to do job search and didnt hassle me about that.From what i have been seeing.. they actually dont have tomake you come in all the time and job search.. seeing as so many people have had different job providers do different things in relation to all of that.. but.. a new person came in and i got assigned to him.. first he made a point about me missing all these appointments.. I didnt get a chance to explain that i had documented proof of hardships earlier that year.. had handed in a three month certificate and it got rejected. I didnt get a chance to say someof thosemissed appointments was a fault on their end. Anyway he toldme to go to centrelink and get an assessment to move to a DES provider. I then had to move houses and it was all very stressful and already being home bound most days due to exhaustion levels.. even worse organising a move. So i called to reschedule my appointment and told him why.. He said.. "I moved last week and managed to work overtime so thats not really an excuse" I immmediately felt uncomfortable, stupid and upset and mumbled about how i deal with chronic illness still. Anyway so i went to centrelink to speak to someone about it all.. BLESS MY LUCKY STARS..I got the most gentle, kind and sweet man ever. He said i needed some things from my doctor to get an assessment to move to a DES provider so that was fine. Mum and i were talking and casuallly i mentioned needing to see that guy still and he politely interrupted and asked what was wrong.. i explained that the comment about him moving and working still mademe severely anxious as i am documented on the system with chronic illnesses. The centrelink mans face was classic.. he was appalled and told me bodly that it was innapropriate and to make a complaint.. ask to see a different person and to also ask to move providers. So next appointment with my provider.. i asked to speak to a manager.. told her i felt uncomfortsble and the centrelink officer was the one who told me he felt it to be innapropriate and to see someone else aswell as move to a new provider until whatever happens with moving to a DES one. She said that was fine.. she would assignme to another lady.. gave me the forms and sent me home. Due to exhaustion flare ups with this summer heat i havent been able to go to a new provider to give them the forms to transfer yet.. got an appointment letter TO SEE THE GUY I GOTTOLD I WOULDNT HAVE TO SEE... Went in.. explained what the manager said.. which i shouldnt have had too.. the girl i was supposed to be assigned to wasnt there that day so i had to see another lady,.. she then asked me very loudly what my issue with the other guy was.. so already feeling vulnerable and scared i had to explain it..whilst he was in the office and could probably hear. Not one of them has apologised for how it made me feel or agreed that it was not appropriate. shes like.. well you need to sort out to move to a new provider. This is a place for job ready people only and went on and on.. The other guy was close by and i knew he was also listening and judging me. She wantedme to go back in two weeks and i said that is literally a few days before christmas and i wont be around. She said.. well you need to come in next week then... i was like.. i need to get taxis due to chronic illness there and back which costs me a fortune on newstart.. which ive been saying the whole time ive been there.. about how i require taxis. So then she bluntly told me i had to call her next week and update her on moving to different provider or DES and all this other stuff. Terrified of how she will be on the phone to me when i call or what she will say. Sorry this was long but dealing with these people has made my mental health so much worse to the point i am siffering from PTSD symptoms and feeling suicidal. They talk down to me like im not human and forget that just because i didnt get approved for dsp doesnt mean im not still chronically ill and suffering daily.I feel lost and hopeless and forever worrying i will have my payment cut off.

rodshehan
Tue, 21 Aug 2018 23:23:14 GMT

Soulsolaris, I really feel for you. I have had similar experiences over the past 20 odd years I had had to suffer through the incompetent and abusive treatment from both Centerlink and providers of various sorts. There are so many options for you, although things have changed a bit since your post in 2017. Mostly with regards to choosing your own provider since July 1 2018. You can make a complaint and make sure it is followed up. CRRS in most circumstances, and the Department of Jobs and Small Business otherwise. If that doesnt work, go to the Commonwealth Ombudsman. Sounds to me like you need an advocate, such as might be provided by the AUWU. In my case, I have spent many years studying in my work field to try and get a job, but havnt been able to get work in that field since 2013. Its a bad employment situation out there for sure. I ended up studying Law, and now have a diploma in that. I actually take these people to task now from a legal point of view. They don't like it, but it gets very expensive for them if they refuse to do the right thing. I was able to force written apologies from my previous 2 providers, and currently have another complaint against my current provider. They have all been negligent, incompetent and abusive of me, even though like you, I have had chronic illness for many years. I turn a negative situation back onto the provider and make them do the work. I hope you can find an advocate Soulsolaris and make these people accountable.