I am overwhelmed at the moment.
A while ago, I applied for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. I have no expectation whatsoever of being approved, but the agency that supplies the little bit of home help I get under a state government scheme has told me I have to apply because the current scheme is ending.
So I dutifully took the form to my GP, she filled it out, and I dutifully posted it.
Now, I've received the same form from the NDIS, with a letter requesting I have my GP fill it out (again).
Of course, I range the NDIS, and asked if they didn't get the form I already sent.
They got it. But they want more details - (and apparently the exact same questions should get different, or more detailed, answers) - and they want to know how many days each month I will have a bad day.
Apparently, they think there is a typical month to go by. (Yes, lovely lupies, I can hear you laughing.)
Can I tell you how many days in a typical month I will be sick? No. Because I have lupus. (Yes, I'm yelling, and belting my head on the wall simultaneously.) There is no such thing as a typical month. I don't know if and when I'm going to have a bad week, a bad day, a bad month, or a bad year. Lupus is completely unpredictable! How can someone dealing with disability services in any way not know that?
If I don't get help, and have to do the things that I currently have someone else do for me, I will have more bad days - I can predict that, because right now someone does all the heavy work around the house, stuff that will overwork my joints and leave me in serious pain.
If I do get the help, I'll have fewer bad days, because I won't be overstressing my joints.
So I'll probably be more qualified to get help if I don't have help.
Now, apparently the federal government's budget surplus is built at least partly on the slow uptake of consumers using the NDIS. NDIS funds aren't being distributed to support people with disabilities, but just going back into government coffers to be reused for other things. For some reason, disability advocates are complaining about that. (Gee, I wonder what their problem is.)
I can see why. If you ask the same questions over and over again, expecting to get different answers, then you're never going to get anywhere. I've barely started the process and I'm considering giving up, because I can't answer their nonsensical questions, and my doctor won't be able to either. (Oh, and because my GP is so popular, I have to wait five weeks for an appointment, but that's another whinge.)
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Good Days and Bad Days
