[Nelly 21]

Hi Folks, finding it hard to find a thread about carers waiting times that isn't closed!!! My story is I am on carers benefit but it is due to end next month. I sent in my application in for CA in January. I was just wondering if its normal to expect 10-12 months of waiting times when you are applying for CA while you are on CB. I phoned the CA office yesterday and they told me that my application was with the medical examiner. Is there anyone else on this thread applying for CA while on CB????

[jacqui c]

hi all i was refused c/a last month sent in for a review but got a letter this morning from the appeals office so does that means my review was not granted ? also how long roughly does an appeal take ? my mothers doctor wrote a great letter stating all of her problems and i contacted joan burtons office to ask for help which was replied to in two day saying they would look into it. other than that i dont think there is anything i can do except wait

[Shalamar]

Hi all,

Its great to find a thread on waiting times. I didnt realise it would be so long! My husband is disabled (broke his leg 3 years ago several surgeries etc) we got approved for disability in November and I applied for Carers in December. I rang a few times and I was told 8 weeks more to wait so that was like the end of march. So I rang again in March and I was told it was with the deciding officer and I would hear in two weeks. Two weeks were up and I rang again to be told that a letter I sent in in February from an occupational therapist (out about the house being unsuitable), in it she just explains what I do for my husband so I thought it would help. But now I'm being told this letter will hold up my application for 2-3 months now as the medical examiner is backed up. I'm so frustrated, I find that when I call them I almost hear a different story every time I call. One person said it was with the deciding officer, the next person says 2-3 months wait! I know my wait is small in comparison to a lot of people but were stressing it out now. Anybody else have this happen? I feel like telling them ignore the letter so we can have an answer but I do think it might help just frustrated that it will take so long

[Nelly 21]

Originally Posted by Shalamar

Hi all,

Its great to find a thread on waiting times. I didnt realise it would be so long! My husband is disabled (broke his leg 3 years ago several surgeries etc) we got approved for disability in November and I applied for Carers in December. I rang a few times and I was told 8 weeks more to wait so that was like the end of march. So I rang again in March and I was told it was with the deciding officer and I would hear in two weeks. Two weeks were up and I rang again to be told that a letter I sent in in February from an occupational therapist (out about the house being unsuitable), in it she just explains what I do for my husband so I thought it would help. But now I'm being told this letter will hold up my application for 2-3 months now as the medical examiner is backed up. I'm so frustrated, I find that when I call them I almost hear a different story every time I call. One person said it was with the deciding officer, the next person says 2-3 months wait! I know my wait is small in comparison to a lot of people but were stressing it out now. Anybody else have this happen? I feel like telling them ignore the letter so we can have an answer but I do think it might help just frustrated that it will take so long

Its so frustrating when you are waiting for CA. Its like sometimes you are begging for money and telling lies. Caring for someone isn't always easy. I'm in the system as I was on carers benefit but it still takes ages. The only thing is they are using a new system that is supposed to put claims through quicker. But as you can see from this thread that a lot of people are months and months waiting. I got a letter from the CA section asking for more information, up to date stuff. I hope this means my claim is moving!! You can go to the community welfare officer for a supplementary payment if you're stuck, you might be entitled to that depending on your circumstances

[Shalamar]

Hi Nelly, any update with your claim? I've been ringing shamelessly the past few weeks and I finally caved and went to a local TD's clinic office 2 weeks ago where he told me he'd make a few calls about my case. Rang today then and was told its finally with the medical examiner but its a private doc they send it to so no telling how long it'll take from there and as soon as they would know they would contact me on the phone... at least I think he said phone lol Does everyone get a welfare visit? I was hoping it would be a simple matter of if its approved then I get a scheduled payment, now I'm wondering if I'll get an inspector out to visit or if its different seeing as my husband got approved for disability and that's who I'm claiming for. And as for CWO's, they closed all the local clinics in my area and I think I could be waiting forever to go visit them! Such a nightmare. I suppose I should just be happy its moving a bit forward! Baby steps!

[Nelly 21]

Originally Posted by Shalamar

Hi Nelly, any update with your claim? I've been ringing shamelessly the past few weeks and I finally caved and went to a local TD's clinic office 2 weeks ago where he told me he'd make a few calls about my case. Rang today then and was told its finally with the medical examiner but its a private doc they send it to so no telling how long it'll take from there and as soon as they would know they would contact me on the phone... at least I think he said phone lol Does everyone get a welfare visit? I was hoping it would be a simple matter of if its approved then I get a scheduled payment, now I'm wondering if I'll get an inspector out to visit or if its different seeing as my husband got approved for disability and that's who I'm claiming for. And as for CWO's, they closed all the local clinics in my area and I think I could be waiting forever to go visit them! Such a nightmare. I suppose I should just be happy its moving a bit forward! Baby steps!

Hi Shalamar, I've been ringing every week myself and a lot of the time I get different information. I think my claim went in a month after yours, mine went in January. They looked for updated information a few weeks ago and I was told that once that was received they would look into it. That obviously didn't happen. Last week they told me I should hear something by the middle of May so I just chanced my arm ringing today, they told me today that the claim is just with the medical examiner this week and is in the queue (the told me 3 months ago, 2 months ago, last week etc..... that my claim was with the medical examiner!) Today I said nothing as I don't want to piss anyone off!!! Its obviously in a queue and they just want to give you some sort of information. I'll ring again next week.

With regards to the inspectors visit, I asked about that in one of my calls and they told me that the inspector doesn't call out for all claims, maybe ones that need to be questioned eg self employment, caring for someone you don't live with etc so a lot of means tests are done in house.

I hope you hear some good news soon and its very difficult to wait for a decision knowing that you re doing all you are meant to do (caring for someone and supplying all information etc) and still to hear nothing! Best of luck!!

[Shalamar]

Hi Nelly! Thanks for your reply, been sick all week and didnt get round to replying! It is a nightmare of a wait and I feel bad because I know a lot of people on the boards waited for well over a year and I'm moaning about a few months lol I was sat here for ages this morning debating whether or not to call incase I piss someone off too lol, I always get different information from different people. Like today, I rang again and the guy said that its been with the doctor a while now so I should hear something soon, when I asked would it be a month waiting, he replied 'oohh yeah definitely' which is confusing because it was only last week I was told it was gone down to the doc lol I think I'll leave it til the end of the month and ring again.

We did apply around the same time, I think the difference is though I sent in an OTs letter in Feb to aid the application (before any decision had been made) and that held it up because it had to que to the medical officer which was so annoying but I figure, it might help! Once this is over, please God I get it lol Then I can focus on other issues we need sorted.

It is really hard and frustrating when your caring for someone and doing everything right, just hope it works out! I hope you hear too, its frustrating waiting so long! Have a great weekend Nelly