DSP evidence, process etc
Hi there, please forgive me as I'm new to using Reddit and this is my first time posting.
I've been lurking on this sub for a while, esp in the DSP section, but wanted to ask some questions as I'm autistic and have anxiety and just need further clarification/clear direction!
Note in case it's relevant: I am currently on Jobseeker, and using medical exemptions to assist me in overriding completing mutual obligations, given that I can't work, and would be unable to consistently and reliably complete the mutual obligations (if at all).
(I've also just been booked for an ESAt after handing in my most recent medical exemption so any advice on that would be really appreciated as I'm really anxious about it, and phone calls in general).
To start, I have diagnosed POTS, fibromyalgia, ASD (level 1, but doing a reassessment soon to amend the diagnosis to level 2), anxiety, depression.
Also getting an ADHD assessment, though that's less disabling than everything else, just relevant as an 'other medical condition', I suppose.
Along with this we suspect I have ME/CFS, and are currently working towards diagnosis for that as well.
Because of all my conditions (especially fibro & ME/CFS), I am unable to work, as most days I can barely leave my bed, and even on better days, I end up suffering with bad PEM after doing things, not limited to but especially if I have an appointment out of the house or a bigger event (a party, an outing, hanging out w friends, even concerts or musicals where I'm sitting the entire time [these are incredibly infrequent] etc etc). Even something like a shower, or making myself food, eating a bigger meal, etc can knock me down for hours or even days, sometimes a week or more (esp smth like a shower).
I am grateful and privileged to still be able to do fun things on occasion, but the point is, I can't work, despite desperately wanting to, and I don't think working is foreseeable in the near future (the next 2-5 years at least, given how significantly my conditions are impacting me). I've been dealing with everything to a more minor level for over a decade but everything physical significantly worsened in July 2024, and has only gotten worse since then.
I was hoping for some clarity and assistance on what kinds of things I need as evidence not just for my diagnoses existing, but in the context of being reasonably treated and stabilised - especially given fibro and ME/CFS don't really have any proven treatments, and they're practically impossible to stabilise (and mine are only worsening).
I have undertaken exercise physiology/strength and conditioning sessions for more than a year at this point - Feb 2025 to Nov 2025, took a break due to my EP leaving, and then again from Apr 2026 to current - with no improvement for pain or fatigue. It usually causes flareups. From what I can tell, this is effectively equivalent to GET (graded exercise therapy) - which is proven to be harmful for ME/CFS, but my GP insists on me continuing it, and I know NDIS and other systems want people with ME/CFS to have undertaken it to prove it won't get better with exercise.
I haven't tested out meds for pain, purely because painkillers have had no effect for me, and my GP hasn't wanted to test out anything stronger because of the risk of addiction/reliance. I've tried multiple combinations of meds to assist with my sleep, but even once we find a combination that works, they slowly stop working after a period of time.
I have an OT who performed a Functional Capacity Assessment that will hopefully help both with NDIS (hoping to get funding for Supported Independent Living) and with Centrelink with DSP, and my psychologist and GP can also write letters for me. Received the FCA and it's defined me as 'severely disabled' and that's with the focus only being on my autism (as it's primarily for NDIS and that's what I have NDIS for rn).
I saw an immunologist in October but that was an unhelpful appointment.
As well a seeing a sleep physician recently which only served to prove my only sleep issues seem to be tied to my chronic illnesses. (I did a sleep study earlier this year which showed mild apnoea, in a micro-wake sense, rather than snoring/oxygen levels dropping, and the sleep physician said there's nothing particularly that can or needs to be done to "fix" that).
I currently have an initial/intake appointment booked for August with a rheumatologist as well to hopefully assist in the management of my chronic pain.
I apologise, I'm rambling and this is probably kind of everywhere, but I just wanted to ask whether there's further things I need to try in terms of treatment/stability, or whether all of this should be enough medical evidence?
I know some places still want you to do GET (graded exercise therapy), but I know the risks and that it usually will worsen someone's condition, so I don't want to risk that, especially given the exercise physiology effectively has the same purpose and has not had any positive impacts for me.
For anyone who's gotten DSP for the same/similar conditions, what was the process like? What evidence did you provide? How did the whole assessment of impairment work? Did you have to do a Program of Support first? Does your DSP application get rejected if you haven't done one or does it pause while you do one, if you don't meet the 20 points on a single table of impairment?
The impact on me and my life should meet 20 on at least 1, if not 2, of the tables, but I know that it's Centrelink's job to judge that, not mine, so I still run the risk of not meeting that.
My sincere apologies for this long mess of a post, please be gentle and patient with me, the brain fog and fatigue are real today, I just hyperfocused on this without being able to read it back and comprehend if I was making any sense 😅
Also please feel free to ask me any questions!
Any assistance is greatly appreciated 💜
(Please lmk if the bolding/italics makes it hard to read, and I'll remove it!)