Hopelessness

Dear Jennifer, sorry to hear what you are going through. And, yes, we can't all be positive. In my case, it comes in waves. Mostly down, but then, I can see the sun and keep on going. Re Centrelink, yes, they are a pain. With Centrelink, I think they have an 'Asset Test', so that can be an issue.

So, I opted to seek assistance through my Super. My GP and Neurosurgeon had to fill out forms to confirm that I can't work anymore (i.e. perform in my previous role). 

Can you seek some legal assistance, maybe?

Since posting this last night I got a call from my Jobnetwork agent this morning. Apparently the letter telling me to restart my jobsearch obligations was an error. I don't have to jobsearch until 7th June.

Re: Superannuation - mine is gone. Centrelink forced me to draw a pension from it in 2018 because "my age and health conditions made it too hard to find me a job or retrain me". I sold my house, paid off the mortgage and invested the balance from the sale and my super into my current house. At least I own that. 

Legal advice probably not an option. Free legal services won't fight Centrelink and I can't afford to pay for services. 

Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Hello Jennifer,

I am so sorry to hear everything that you have gone through since your stroke. It sounds like it has been a really tough time for you.  What you are feeling is very normal, given what is happening for you.  It is great you have reached out and I hope that we here at StrokeLine and the lived experience community can support you.

I am pleased to hear that you do not have to seek and apply for jobs until June. If you ever have issues with Centrelink again, I would suggest appealing their decision. You can appeal a decision by phoning Centrelink (or visiting a Centrelink office and telling them you wish to appeal). It is good to keep a track of when you call and who you talk with when contacting Centrelink.  You can receive both an internal and external review of a decision from Centrelink that you are unhappy with.  You could also access an advocate to help communicate with Centrelink.  StrokeLine can talk you through this process.

In regard to cancelling services, it is important to be able to receive therapy to support you in your recovery. StrokeLine would be able to talk with you about other options to seek therapy at a reduced cost such as using the Chronic Conditions Management Plan through your Gp.

There are also other financial supports available that might help with reducing some of your outgoing expenses, if you give us a call at StrokeLine we would be happy to talk with you about what might be available for you.

Stroke recovery can be difficult, and it sounds like your fatigue and the headaches you are experiencing are taking their toll on you.  It is important that you reach out for help, and perhaps talking to someone could be helpful for you.   Would you reach out to StrokeLine? Or we could give you a call if you would like us to. You can contact us on Ph. 1800 787 653 or email us at strokeline@strokefoundation.org.au. We are available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (AEDT).

If you need someone to talk to immediately, or after hours, Lifeline on Ph. 13 11 14 provides crisis support and someone to talk to 24 hours 7 days per week.

Do reach out.

Kind regards

Siobhan (StrokeLine)

Hello Jennifer,

Are you not able to access NDIS? This is a great resource. 

@robk I'm not able to access anything. 

I'm either too young or too old

Too young for aged pension, too old for Centrelink to bother.

Too sick or not sick enough 

Too sick to work, not able to tick enough boxes for disability/ NDIS

Live too far away or too close

Too far to travel to appointments which are 74kms away, too close because have to be 80kms away to access travel assistance

Hey Jennifer,

Thanks for posting. I have no advice, just wanting to agree with what you are saying.  I’m 45, used to drive for a living.  I can’t drive anymore, even if I could the medication isn’t safe to do so anyway.  I requested assistance at that point but was told I wasn’t eligible.  They decided to request reassignment of my duties and I now work from home on a tech support team which involves high level problem solving…..and this is their idea of a fix..I don’t know how we can fix it but I just wanted to acknowledge your post.  

You have a thing called depression , most stroke victims get it , some take 6 months and some take alot longer , just remember your brain was truamatised and takes a long time to recover , best thing is to think positive , after all you have a long hard battle to win . Always look on the good side , some with strokes are worse of than you .My s[peeling might not be the best , but you get my idea .