Disability Support Pension Support Letter

Disability Support Pension (DSP) – GP Support Letter Template

Patient Details

• Name: Arthur James Pendelton
• Date of Birth: 14/08/1966
• Address: 42 Station Street, Coburg VIC 3058
• Centrelink Reference Number (CRN): 409-882-104A

Treating Professional Details

• Name: Dr Sarah Jenkins
• Qualification(s): MBBS, FRACGP
• Provider Number: 2489103B
• Practice Address: Moreland Road Medical Centre, 118 Moreland Road, Brunswick VIC 3056
• Contact Number: (03) 9380 4411
• Email: s.jenkins@morelandmed.com.au
• Duration of Treatment: 6 years

Medical Conditions

• Severe lumbar spondylosis with L4/L5 radiculopathy (diagnosed 12/03/2021 by Mr David Vance, Neurosurgeon).
• Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) (diagnosed 05/11/2021 by Dr Jonathan Lim, Consultant Psychiatrist).
• Bilateral knee osteoarthritis, T2DM, hypertension.

Treatment History

• L4/5 laminectomy and discectomy (2022), multidisciplinary pain management clinic (Royal Melbourne Hospital, 2023), regular physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and clinical psychology (CBT). Current pharmacotherapy: pregabalin (Lyrica) 150 mg PO BID, duloxetine (Cymbalta) 60 mg PO daily, paracetamol (Panadol Osteo) 1,330 mg PO TID, metformin 1,000 mg PO BID, perindopril 5 mg PO daily.
• All reasonable surgical, pharmacological, and allied health interventions have been exhausted with minimal functional gain. Chronic neuropathic pain and depressive symptoms persist at baseline.
• Structural spinal degeneration is permanent; neurosurgeon advised against further surgical intervention due to high risk of failed back surgery syndrome and low likelihood of functional recovery.

Functional Impact

Mr Pendelton experiences severe, chronic functional impairment across multiple daily domains, preventing any sustained physical or sedentary work activity (correlating to ≥ 20 points under Impairment Tables 1, 4, and 5).

• Mobility: Uses a single-point stick outdoors. Unable to walk > 50 m without stopping due to severe radicular pain. Unable to stand or sit for > 15 minutes continuously. Cannot use public transport independently due to balance issues and stair intolerance.
• Communication: Speech is intact, though chronic pain and medication side effects frequently cause conversational fatigue, requiring repetition of complex instructions.
• Social Interaction: Socially withdrawn due to MDD and chronic pain. Avoids leaving the house except for medical appointments; experiences irritability and anxiety in crowded environments.
• Learning & Cognition: Significant impairment in concentration, short-term memory, and executive planning secondary to MDD, poor sleep, and pregabalin therapy. Cannot sustain focus on reading or screen tasks for > 15 minutes.
• Self-care: Requires daily physical assistance from his wife to put on shoes, socks, and lower body garments, and utilizes a shower chair and grab rails for bathing.
• Domestic Tasks: Unable to perform heavy housework, gardening, vacuuming, or prolonged standing for meal preparation. Wife performs all cleaning and grocery shopping.
• Financial & Administrative: Relies on his wife to manage household bills, Centrelink correspondence, and scheduling of medical appointments due to cognitive overwhelm and poor memory.

Capacity for Work

Based on my clinical assessment, it is my professional opinion that the patient’s condition causes severe functional impairment, and they are unable to work or participate in education or training now or in the foreseeable future.

Prognosis

Despite continuing treatment, the patient’s condition has remained stable, and improvement in functional capacity is not expected over the next two years. I therefore certify that the condition has been fully diagnosed, treated, and stabilised.

Declaration

I, Dr Sarah Jenkins, confirm that this letter is accurate to the best of my knowledge and reflects my clinical assessment.

Please contact me should any additional information be needed.

Signature

Date: 24/05/2024