Centrelink and Financial
Assistance
Many, if not most,
victims/survivors need to get financial assistance from the state due to the
immensity of recovery and the inability to work. This need happens especially
at the beginning of recovery. As recovery progresses, there may be less need as
a victim/survivor, if s/he wants, gets part time or full time work. Within all
the confusion and horribleness of beginning recovery, the victim/survivor has
to deal with Centrelink, the Social Security department. Even though Centrelink
generally is a department that is “customer friendly”, there does need some
explanation as it can be confusing, and sometimes inefficient. This section of
the webpage explains Centrelink, and the support and financial assistance it
offers, from a victim/survivors viewpoint.
Centrelink is basically a large,
state run department with public servants, policies, etc. It therefore can be a
bit unwieldy, and have slack and good staff. It does have sections which deal
specifically with victims/survivors in terms of being psychologically disabled.
This is the Disability, Sickness and Carers Section and the staff here are
generally good. There are also psychologists and social workers who work
generally within Centrelink and whom you can see. The staff in the Disability,
Sickness and Carers Section and psychologists and social workers are trained in
helping people with a disability. Most general staff, like counter staff, are
not specifically trained. In dealing with Centrelink it is therefore advisable
to talk to the Disability, Sickness and Carers Section or a psychologists or
social worker. This is particularly important when deciding which benefit or
pension to go on. Sometimes as with what happened to me a counter staff person
will automatically put you on UB. Being in an already stressed state you may
not be aware of your entitlements. Telephoning the Disability, Sickness and
Carers Section is also better than talking to general staff for both an application
and if youre on SB or DSP.
There are three main benefits and
pensions that victims/survivors apply for. This is the Unemployment Benefit
(UB), Sickness Benefit (SB) and Disability Support Pension (DSP). Which benefit
or pension depends upon how you see the recovery progressing. If you think you
can still work full time and do recovery, then the U.B. suits. If you feel that
you may be in recovery for about two years and cannot work full time, then the
SB is suitable. If you feel that recovery will take a longer time than two
years then the DSP suits. The SB is the most flexible in terms of anticipating
how long recovery will be. It can state periods of two months to two years. It
is also important to get feedback from your counsellor on how recovery will
occur so that you can have a second opinion. Applying for each has its own
process. The UB is easy to get on. You need to simply fill out a form at
Centrelink. SB simply needs a doctors statement that shows how long s/he feels
you will be sick for. This can be extended. The DSP needs a full doctors or
psychiatrists report for an application and reviews, and one from a doctor or
psychiatrist you have known some time. If you cant obtain this, a long term
counsellors report is good, but it may also mean seeing a doctor from
Centrelink.
Even though it is difficult
enough just dealing with recovery, particularly at the beginning, it is
important to understand which benefit or pension is appropriate as each has its
benefits and suitability. This is why feedback from your counsellor or a
psychologist or social worker within Centrelink is important. This is an
outline of the advantages and disadvantages of UB, SB and DSP. The main advantage of being on UB is a
psychological one. If work is important in your self esteem, desiring and
getting work will help recovery. The disadvantages are: less having to put in a
fortnightly form showing where you have sought work, and possibly having to do
mandatory retraining courses. This can place extra stress on recovery. It also
has less benefits than say DSP which has more income, better assistance such as
cheaper medicine with the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), no forms, etc.
The main advantage of the SB is its flexibility. From the initial two month
period, this can be extended to two years so therefore you can see how much
assistance you need from Social Security. The only form is the two month
doctors statement and you receive more benefits than the UB such as the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). It has less benefits than DSP which
provides more assistance and only a two or five yearly review. If recovery will
take more than two years and which is the general case, the DSP is the most
appropriate support. Apart from the two or five yearly review, it allows for no
stress with forms and most importantly, is the support set up specifically for
people with psychological disabilities.