Sent in my ODSP forms today, questions

[severeanxiety84]

I was officially diagnosed with severe anxiety and panic disorder about four years ago, but have dealt with anxiety/fear going back to my early teens. So I was pretty happy when a week back my family doctor had no qualms about filling out the ODSP forms for me. He said "no issue, glad to do it". I guess based on how he so easily accepted, I got the impression that he'd do a good job on the forms since he knows my case pretty well. But after getting the forms back, and seeing how he filled it out, don't know if he did that good of a job. So I guess I'm asking you guys if you have any impressions.

He made no comments on the form, he simply circled a number (for those of you familiar, most of the odsp form is rating a person on a scale of 4 on a number of items, 4 being the worst, a person that cannot function at all). He rated me a 2 on many things and one thing as a 3 (in relation to the question about emotion, anxiety, panic). He also wrote moderatley severe anxiety with panic disorder. But then wrote that I have dysfunction with work and social/interpersonal and some of the symptoms. I did also include my psychiatric report. (and he knew this and told me to include it). And I also included a couple emergency room reports from many years back. I also included a note that indicates the time frame that I saw the psychiatric (confirms the length and time frame). And also one prescription note (which shows a medication I was prescribed by my psychiatrist), because my family doctor only wrote the two meds I've takken prescribed by him, but there are three others I've taken that were not prescribed by him. I do feel I answered the self-report well, but I'm not sure if they read that or put much weight into it.

I guess I'm just trying to decipher if it will be an issue that he didn't actually write anything? Did I send in enough proof? Is moderatley severe anxiety sufficient to get odsp?

---------- Post Merged at 06:58 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 05:50 PM ----------

Oh, and for the question about how do you see the future, illness staying same, worse, better, he put "unknown".

 

[forgetmenot]

Pdoc is the best to fill out those forms as they are the ones dealing with your mental illness
What YOU write they do look at as well so if you state you are not able to function and that your anxiety is interfering with your ability to work and live and how bad it is they will look at that
Hope it goes in your favor

 

[severeanxiety84]

Yeah, but any idea if anything he circled/wrote is a problem? Did I send enough documentation? Is it an issue he didn't write anything? He wrote it is continuous issue but if it will get better, worse, stay same, wrote "unknown".

He personally told me at the last appointment that there is no other medication he can give me, because I've gone through all the main ones. So I feel I'm at my end, and that I don't have any options really left. I wrote a small sentence indicating that in the letter, but not sure what that will do.

I just hope they can get back to me faster than usual.

 

[forgetmenot]

Just be prepared ok if they deny you at first that is not uncommon most people have to apply more then once just preparing you You may get accepted right off
I hope they do get back to you soon so you are not kept waiting

 

[forgetmenot]

Just wondering if you heard back from ODSP hope all goes well for you

 

[severeanxiety84]

Thanks for asking. No, they have not gotten back to me yet. I got notificiation that my papers were all in officially on April 1st, so it has been three months. I expect to wait one more month (which is really 90 business days), but realize it could even take longer.

On one hand I don't think I'll get it because my doctor didn't add much to the forms aside from circling the numbers on the scale, and he labbeled me "moderate anxiety". On the other hand I have a psychiatric report added, and documentation that I've had this problem since a young age, and that I've tried quite a few medications and not denied anything.

 

[forgetmenot]

I hope they documented the effects the anxiety is having on your ability to function to carry a job etc Hope all works out ok

 

[severeanxiety84]

One thing I'm concerned about is that my doctor may have put "unknown" if my condition is long-term. Would that impact things?
I find it odd that he would check that because I've had this since I was 12-13yrs old..im near 30 now. I guess there is always hope that some medication or therapy will come up in the future, but its an odd thing to do.

And yes, he did write that it causes me to not be able to fucntion with work/school. (in the place where he wrote i have moderate anxiety)

 

[forgetmenot]

Just know if you do not get it first time do NOT be upset ok so many have to apply more then once Not saying you won't get it but if you don't get your doc to be more specific in the diagnosis and how it affects your life

 

[severeanxiety84]

I do realize that but it doesn't make me feel much better. lol I really need to be finally able to get out on my own, and ODSP is the only way I can do that.
I also think it's really unfortunate that we have to wait so long. My worker actually said it could take 3 to 6 months, not just 90 business days.
I would rather that they make it more difficult to get ODSP, and set tougher standards, but at least let each and every applicant know about their status within a 30 day period or something.

 

[severeanxiety84]

Called in to see if they had any info on my file. Lady said nothing yet. Said could take mid August to late August (that make 4.5/5 months all together wait)
The way she sounded though, she seemed somewhat annoyed..basically saying, "you know the 90 business days is NOT up". I didn't want to say anything, but was thinking...do you really think its right that we have to even wait this long? Alright, if I knew that the benefits were coming, that is a different story..but to still be waiting to hear if you are accepted..a bit too much.

 

[forgetmenot]

I hear you but sometimes a longer wait is good news really they are still considering your claim

 

[severeanxiety84]

I hear you but sometimes a longer wait is good news really they are still considering your claim

I hope so. At the same time, is it in their interest to wait and have to pay back-pay for all the months I had to wait? (if they are approving me).

 

[Retired]

is it in their interest to wait and have to pay back-pay for all the months I had to wait?

Hopefully that is not the motivation for the time required to process your application, as that would be unethical as we have seen in the VA reports in the U.S.

I am not familiar with the this type of benefit, but in some cases, when delays are the result of volume of work and time needed to investigate, on approval benefits are paid retroactively.

Could it be the case in this situation?

 

[severeanxiety84]

Hopefully that is not the motivation for the time required to process your application, as that would be unethical as we have seen in the VA reports in the U.S.

I am not familiar with the this type of benefit, but in some cases, when delays are the result of volume of work and time needed to investigate, on approval benefits are paid retroactively.

Could it be the case in this situation?

Sorry I wasn't clear.

Yes, they do have to pay you for all the months from the time they recieved your application, to however long it takes to approve you. I was just hinting that maybe its a sign I am not going to be approved, because in this case it be in their interest to approve me as soon as possible (to not have to pay those months)

But again, could simply be a back-log too.

 

[forgetmenot]

It takes strength to call so good for you for making that call I do think there is a back log of claims but you are right in that they have to pay you from time they receive your claim Lets hope you hear soon

 

[severeanxiety84]

It takes strength to call so good for you for making that call I do think there is a back log of claims but you are right in that they have to pay you from time they receive your claim Lets hope you hear soon

Thank you it was hard to get the courage.

Do you guys know if I get approved if I will hear from my case worker first or the letter saying i was approved most likely?

 

[forgetmenot]

I am not 100 percent sure but i would think you would both get notification abt same time if you signed a release form allowing your case worker to receive information about your application Your case worker should be able to look into where your application is at right now i would think

 

[severeanxiety84]

I have waited 75 business days, so I feel in next 3 weeks it is realistic to expect some sort of news.

I wish there was no weekends at this point lol, because during business days I at least have some hope that things are getting done.

 

[H011yHawkJ311yBean]

I think to write "unknown" was actually better than guessing when something can get "fixed." To me, "unknown" would indicate that it's an ongoing issue and may have no end date.

I don't see why it wouldn't be considered enough documentation, especially when you included your information and the psychiatrist's report.

Myself being on stress leave and for starters I have a physician who knows I have a history of anxiety, I've/we've had to team together/discuss to persuade the insurance company for the company I work for that I need this time off. I wonder if you can contact and have clear communication with your therapist who filled out the form, and ask for his professional opinion, or for some guidance as to why he filled out the form the way he did. It is his job to tell you, and it sounds like it would help lessen your anxiety about the whole thing if you just did this step.

To help you with an analogy, I would say I'm definitely in rough enough shape, emotionally and thought-process-wise... I have so many things going on right now, that it's too much for me to process. My point is, my physician wrote up something quite detailed at the beginning of all of this, and Great West Life accepted that. However the next time my doctor sent in something, it was just a written note. So my insurance company (GWL) called me saying they needed more information, etc.

So now I made a point of getting MORE information. I saw my therapist/psychologist recently, and he agreed to write a letter - he specifically called my issue "adjustment disorder" and I asked him to clearly write the reasons (I gave three that I could think of) as to why I could not return to work.

Likewise, my gynecologist also thought my issues stemmed more from the anxiety, and she's a doctor, so she is going to send in a report, too. She felt that I may benefit somewhat (relieve some stress) from some additional hormone therapy/medication.

My physician is away on vacation right now, but I also see a psychiatrist before I see my doctor again. I am going to be firm about the psychiatrist also sending a detailed letter to GWL as well. I will stress how the lack of information causes the GWL people to call me and cause me more unwanted stress!!! When my physician returns from vacation, I will be firm about him sending an actual letter, not a written note, with the gynecologist report included.

You see, you can ask questions, and get your doctors/therapists to do things for you. You are paying them or they are receiving money from your benefits, yes? Even if they aren't, generally speaking, you have a right to ask questions to calm your anxiety. ♥