Sent in my ODSP forms today, questions

[severeanxiety84]

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. ♥

Thanks for your reply.

I guess I gave enough documentation, and I also thought I explained my condition well, but I'm worried about the "moderate anxiety" designation, and that the family doc didn't really explain my condition also. He just filled in the compulsory part.

 

[H011yHawkJ311yBean]

Wow, 75 days? If I hadn't heard anything I probably would have called someone to track something down. Did you sign all this stuff off (release papers) so your doctors would discuss things with whomever you are sending the forms to? If so, call your doctor and ask why you haven't heard anything yet. That's what I would do! It would be a starting point, anyway...

 

[David Baxter PhD]

That's not unusually long for an ODSP application, especially in the summer, JGJB.

Mind you, it wouldn't hurt to inquire about the status of your application.

 

[severeanxiety84]

I did ask some days back, one person said it is 90 business days (so they said expect mid August). Another person said the start of August.

 

[H011yHawkJ311yBean]

Ah, I hadn't realized there was an expectation of 90 days.

You do have choices, though...

It's my opinion that you either:
a) need to call someone who can help you talk about the forms, at least just for information, not for when they will be processed. Perhaps they can refer you to someone who knows if that person you call isn't sure.
or
b) wait and be worried about what hasn't or what might happen. Is there anything you can do to distract yourself or meditate or relax if you can't do the first thing (a)... Can you at least come up with some plan or goal if you get or if you don't get the approval. What happens next?
or
c) wait and not worry about what will happen, because you will fully be able to deal with any outcome that occurs. If your claim is denied, you can appeal. If it is allowed, then I am guessing you will deal with that outcome differently. Hopefully you have a plan or goal for either (see b) so you will know what to do either way. If you don't know what to do, perhaps you can find out, again, by asking questions to the appropriate resources (I am not sure, is anyone here in this forum savvy about this sort of process?).

Either way, I am sure you will be able to get things to the way you want them to be, if it's right away or in a roundabout manner. I do hope you can alleviate your concern and anxiety about this process and about how the forms were filled out, or if you cannot, hopefully you can give up control of this as it would seem to be out of your hands.

I don't feel that I am offering very good emotional support, but I'm offering perhaps a method I am familiar with of dealing with anxiety. The trick is to not let it sit and fester but to talk to someone about it or let it go. I wish you well!! I hope you find out soon, because I totally would find that waiting 90 days thing to be a long wait. I would definitely be calling or speaking to my therapist or doctor or whomever about how the forms were filled out. But that's how I deal with things. It's different for everyone, I suppose. ♥

 

[severeanxiety84]

Yeah, I totally agree with you. My anxiety is much worse when things are "up in the air", it causes me great anxiety..i just want every issue to be fixed FAST. But I have been waiting so long for this, and now I feel it is so close, that my anxiety is actually ok (at least in regards to waiting for this) I can see the end.

And yes, I am prepared for the denial. I've actually registered myself for Uni for the fall (and signed up with the disability service, allowing me a private room to do mid-terms/finals, and other things) So if I don't recieve this money, at least I will have osap money.

One thing I realized long time ago was that I had to think ahead, far far ahead, and give myself options.

 

[H011yHawkJ311yBean]

Yeah, I think waiting is the hardest part for people, but it's probably harder to bear for us folks with anxiety. We have to find ways to soothe ourselves. Hope you hear soon, either way.

 

[severeanxiety84]

So I just got the letter..they denied me.

Saying a) you do not have a substantial mental impairment that is continuos or reccurent b) the direct and cumilative effect of your impairment is essentially not enough to impair the different areas (work, community, etc)

Right now I just feel so mad, not sure how to respond.

 

[Retired]

Right now I just feel so mad, not sure how to respond.

Find out what is appeal process and do what is necessary to initiate an appeal. Wait a day or so to let your anger subside, and try not to direct your anger at the person you talk to or the language used when you write your appeal.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Also go back to your doctor to see if he will help document your case in filing the appeal. Being denied on first application is not unusual. It doesn't mean there is no hope.

 

[severeanxiety84]

Also go back to your doctor to see if he will help document your case in filing the appeal. Being denied on first application is not unusual. It doesn't mean there is no hope.

Document how? What do I tell him?

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Take the letter you got from ODSP with you and ask him whether he is prepared to help you with your appeal.

 

[forgetmenot]

Please know this is not uncommon ok it is almost the norm that most people who apply are denied first time Like Dr Baxter said take the note you received to your doctor your therapist and get them to help you appeal Some people it takes awhile to get it but it is worth the fight ok so do not give up hope With your doctor and therapist help filling out forms the way they need to be filled out the appeal usually goes through

 

[rdw]

WCB applications in Alberta follow a similar process - deny first.

 

[H011yHawkJ311yBean]

Gah! I am sorry to hear that you were denied first time around, but everyone here seems to think this is the norm. I am unfamiliar with the process, but they've all mentioned what definitely seems like the logical place to start over.

Perhaps this time around both doctors will be more detailed. Perhaps the last time they filled out the forms they expected the first time to be denied, so they didn't put as much effort into it.

On the other hand, maybe it's a good idea to write down questions you may have learned to ask from the last time you had the forms filled out, so you can remember to ask them when you see your doctors.

Best of luck! Man, I hate bureaucracy. Or should I say bureaucrazy! lol

 

[severeanxiety84]

Should I be calling legal aid or anything like that to help me? or do I do that if it comes up to go to the Tribunal?

 

[David Baxter PhD]

No legal aid isn't what you need. It's medical-psychiatric documentation. Getting lawyers involved will probably make eventual approval less likely.

 

[severeanxiety84]

No legal aid isn't what you need. It's medical-psychiatric documentation. Getting lawyers involved will probably make eventual approval less likely.

Right. Well, something leads me to believe it is not the amount of documentation that got me denied. On top of the doctor filling out forms, I sent in a psychiatric report, i sent a couple examples of me going to the emergency for this issue (way back in 1998, so they see this has been going on a long time), and tried to explain that I've taken the meds/therapy offered to me. They (GP and psychiatrist) both have me labelled as "moderate anxiety".

One problem appears to be that in the forms, when it refers to daily activities, the activities are mostly tied to physical stuff (being able to physically go to a store, and fulfill basic needs). Since I have no issues with that stuff, that part does not do a good job of outlining my issues. But I thought I very clearly outlined all my issues and how they combine in the self-report.

---------- Post Merged at 01:23 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 10:20 AM ----------

Please know this is not uncommon ok it is almost the norm that most people who apply are denied first time Like Dr Baxter said take the note you received to your doctor your therapist and get them to help you appeal Some people it takes awhile to get it but it is worth the fight ok so do not give up hope With your doctor and therapist help filling out forms the way they need to be filled out the appeal usually goes through

And thank you forgetmenot, and the rest of you for the support. It actually means a lot. I'm keeping a positive outlook because of your guys comments, and I'm going to take your advice and first thing Monday try to make the tough call to see if my doctor will do something for me for the appeal.

 

[Mari]

Sometimes approval is quick but generally you need infinite patience. You might be physically capable of doing things but does your anxiety prevent you from doing them? Some people do have a lawyer with them if it goes to tribunal to help them through the process. I hope things work out for you.

 

[severeanxiety84]

but does your anxiety prevent you from doing them?

Yes, that is why I applied. I left a good, fairly good paying job, because of it. Despite the job being very easy physically and even intellectually, and in a fairly non-pressure environment.