The System in Canada is broke

[SjMel]

My PTSD comes from a work place accident. It also involves motor vehicle insurance because it involves a motor vehicle accident.

My case worker has created nothing but barriers towards me receiving all the support I need. And I have spent the last couple of months reaching out for needed support but as soon as I mention my accident is a work place accident nobody will touch me with a 10 foot pole.

I have multiple barriers. Undiagnosed Autism Spectrum, undiagnosed learning disabilities, Physical limitations from my accident including my heart condition, and PTSD which aggravates my heart condition. All of which has created significant barriers towards reintegration back to work.

With a proper diagnosis I should have no problem being approved for PWD and then be able to transfer to a shelter unit. But with the way the system is, I am going to end up homeless before gaining access to what resources I need.

I found a Psychologist who is willing to assess and able to diagnose but I can't utilize that diagnosis for insurance purposes only for PWD and Shelter purposes. At the very least, there's now hope that just maybe I won't end up homeless. Maybe... But if the system serves its purpose I will be denied all help and all resources I need because it doesn't seem like I am able to tap into resources that are out there.

At least for right now, I have spiritual direction and a couple support groups I can attend in person that will be of some help.

I just hope that my current plan doesn't get cut off prematurely because of bureaucratic red tape.

 

[PamelaS]

My PTSD comes from a work place accident. It also involves motor vehicle insurance because it involves a motor vehicle accident.

My case worker has created nothing but barriers towards me receiving all the support I need. And I have spent the last couple of months reaching out for needed support but as soon as I mention my accident is a work place accident nobody will touch me with a 10 foot pole.

I have multiple barriers. Undiagnosed Autism Spectrum, undiagnosed learning disabilities, Physical limitations from my accident including my heart condition, and PTSD which aggravates my heart condition. All of which has created significant barriers towards reintegration back to work.

With a proper diagnosis I should have no problem being approved for PWD and then be able to transfer to a shelter unit. But with the way the system is, I am going to end up homeless before gaining access to what resources I need.

I found a Psychologist who is willing to assess and able to diagnose but I can't utilize that diagnosis for insurance purposes only for PWD and Shelter purposes. At the very least, there's now hope that just maybe I won't end up homeless. Maybe... But if the system serves its purpose I will be denied all help and all resources I need because it doesn't seem like I am able to tap into resources that are out there.

At least for right now, I have spiritual direction and a couple support groups I can attend in person that will be of some help.

I just hope that my current plan doesn't get cut off prematurely because of bureaucratic red tape.

Sorry for your situation. Homelessness is certainly a risk factor for people like us. I am now back living in the house with my abuser, because it was better than being homeless to me. It has taken 2 years, but I am now physically safe in a separate locked part of the house and have been using boundaries to get closer and closer to emotionally safe. The past week has been the safest for me because my abuser finally agreed to leave me alone. I have been living in constant trigger mode for 2 years. Now I can finally breathe.
I shared all that to let you know that you are not alone in trying to avoid homelessness. I hope that your support groups and spiritual help will be able to help direct you to possible solutions. I wish you well.

 

[SjMel]

After a long time of struggling in the flawed system I received good news.

In BC our auto insurance is called ICBC and Workers Compensation is called WorkSafe.

What led to my PTSD was a work related motor vehicle accident.

I had a conversation with my ICBC Claims Worker and have been communicating with him how WorkSafe has been neglecting my needs and how I have needed an official diagnosis of PTSD as a Provisional diagnosis is not good enough to access resources. Meanwhile WorkSafe has refused to send me for a diagnostic assessment and I have been turned away by so many Psychologists because my accident that led to PTSD is connected with WorkSafe. Then I found a place where I can receive a diagnostic assessment but I can't use that assessment for my WorkSafe claim.

Even he was confused by it all. I was like, "I don't know but all I know is that I have reached out to numerous places and they all rejected me as a Client because my case is connected with WorkSafe.

He told me that ICBC sends people to the diagnostic center I connected with. And while I might not be able to use that assessment for WorkSafe I can most likely use it for ICBC purposes. And ICBC is probably in a position to reimburse my sister's husband for the cost of my diagnostic assessment.

My ICBC Claims Worker also told me he just signed a cheque for me which is in the mail. I will receive that either this week or next week.

The money is going to help significantly.

I can use some to pay down my rental arrears and some of it to replace my eyeglasses I lost in my accident.

Because of my PTSD symptoms along with my heart condition and trying to recover from accident as well as grieving the sudden loss of my sister I haven't been doing well physically. I don't have the energy to do simple grocery shopping and I have been wasting money on food app deliveries because whenever I walk a fair distance I not only get super fatigued but pending their are times my heart arrhythmia disorder acts up and I start to experience heart palpitations which also gets me fatigued. So I was looking into affordable mobility scooters. But they were all too big for my small apartment and required both hands to operate which causes significant pain in the arm I almost lost in my accident.

With the money I am receiving from ICBC I can now get an electric wheelchair. All I need is a backpack for the rear and a side pouch and can still have bulk items delivered while shopping for smaller items and still save money. I can do most of my travelling in and around town on my electric scooter and spend less time on the bus. I can reserve my energy so that I can be more functional at home while exercising strategically to strengthen my endurance without leaving myself unable to care of things at home.

My ICBC Claims Worker told me that if WorkSafe doesn't send me to one of their own for a diagnostic assessment and don't factor in my mental health as far as when they assess me for any return to work program and vocational rehabilitation and if that leads me to being cut off wage loss benefits then ICBC will factor in my mental health and could also continue with wage loss benefits.

Not only that but I was told I will be receiving a life long ICBC Pension as well as a life long WorkSafe Pension. I just don't know the total amount.

I was also told that I might qualify for a shelter unit in my building with my heart condition. So I might not need to have to wait for an official PTSD diagnosis to get placed on the list for that shelter unit. And I might be able to get bumped up to be first in line because they could rent out my apartment at full rental price and make more money by transfering me to one of their shelter units.

So maybe there is hope for me right now.

I know my accident caused my employer significant money with the increasing of insurance on all his Fleet trucks maybe that guy will actually train up his workers appropriately. So maybe ICBC was waiting for my former employer to start paying the higher insurance rate before sending me money. I don't know, I can only guess the reasons for the delay. Maybe the delay is policy and because I haven't been able to return to work yet and it's been over a year that has unlocked additional benefits.

I am a little more hopeful now.

 

[PamelaS]

After a long time of struggling in the flawed system I received good news.

In BC our auto insurance is called ICBC and Workers Compensation is called WorkSafe.

What led to my PTSD was a work related motor vehicle accident.

I had a conversation with my ICBC Claims Worker and have been communicating with him how WorkSafe has been neglecting my needs and how I have needed an official diagnosis of PTSD as a Provisional diagnosis is not good enough to access resources. Meanwhile WorkSafe has refused to send me for a diagnostic assessment and I have been turned away by so many Psychologists because my accident that led to PTSD is connected with WorkSafe. Then I found a place where I can receive a diagnostic assessment but I can't use that assessment for my WorkSafe claim.

Even he was confused by it all. I was like, "I don't know but all I know is that I have reached out to numerous places and they all rejected me as a Client because my case is connected with WorkSafe.

He told me that ICBC sends people to the diagnostic center I connected with. And while I might not be able to use that assessment for WorkSafe I can most likely use it for ICBC purposes. And ICBC is probably in a position to reimburse my sister's husband for the cost of my diagnostic assessment.

My ICBC Claims Worker also told me he just signed a cheque for me which is in the mail. I will receive that either this week or next week.

The money is going to help significantly.

I can use some to pay down my rental arrears and some of it to replace my eyeglasses I lost in my accident.

Because of my PTSD symptoms along with my heart condition and trying to recover from accident as well as grieving the sudden loss of my sister I haven't been doing well physically. I don't have the energy to do simple grocery shopping and I have been wasting money on food app deliveries because whenever I walk a fair distance I not only get super fatigued but pending their are times my heart arrhythmia disorder acts up and I start to experience heart palpitations which also gets me fatigued. So I was looking into affordable mobility scooters. But they were all too big for my small apartment and required both hands to operate which causes significant pain in the arm I almost lost in my accident.

With the money I am receiving from ICBC I can now get an electric wheelchair. All I need is a backpack for the rear and a side pouch and can still have bulk items delivered while shopping for smaller items and still save money. I can do most of my travelling in and around town on my electric scooter and spend less time on the bus. I can reserve my energy so that I can be more functional at home while exercising strategically to strengthen my endurance without leaving myself unable to care of things at home.

My ICBC Claims Worker told me that if WorkSafe doesn't send me to one of their own for a diagnostic assessment and don't factor in my mental health as far as when they assess me for any return to work program and vocational rehabilitation and if that leads me to being cut off wage loss benefits then ICBC will factor in my mental health and could also continue with wage loss benefits.

Not only that but I was told I will be receiving a life long ICBC Pension as well as a life long WorkSafe Pension. I just don't know the total amount.

I was also told that I might qualify for a shelter unit in my building with my heart condition. So I might not need to have to wait for an official PTSD diagnosis to get placed on the list for that shelter unit. And I might be able to get bumped up to be first in line because they could rent out my apartment at full rental price and make more money by transfering me to one of their shelter units.

So maybe there is hope for me right now.

I know my accident caused my employer significant money with the increasing of insurance on all his Fleet trucks maybe that guy will actually train up his workers appropriately. So maybe ICBC was waiting for my former employer to start paying the higher insurance rate before sending me money. I don't know, I can only guess the reasons for the delay. Maybe the delay is policy and because I haven't been able to return to work yet and it's been over a year that has unlocked additional benefits.

I am a little more hopeful now.

Glad to hear your situation is turning a corner. Hope it continues.