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Disability Allowance?

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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 394 ✭✭livemusic4life


    Thats fantastic :) so glad they sorted you out so quickly


  • Registered Users Posts: 28 Cyvad


    I'm wondering if there is any pointing me phoning the up everyday to enquire about my claim. A friend told me that you really need to be on their case about it and basically hassle them into processing it. Any truth in this? I'm not convinced there would be any point


  • Registered Users Posts: 6 cms33


    Bof No1 wrote: »
    Just a follow up to my own situation. Looked at my bank account this morning and had to do a couple of double takes, all the arrears lodged to my account, as well as my weekly payment. Just under 3 weeks after first payment lodged to my bank and now all the arrears paid. I thought all arrears were paid by cheque, but maybe that's in the case of people who use the Post Office? Anyway, I can now start paying people back and clear some debts, maybe 2014 will be a good year!
    .
    That was quick I picked up first payment this week in the post office I was told on this could be 4 months befor I get the cheque for arrears :(


  • Registered Users Posts: 66 ✭✭Bof No1


    Cyvad, I didn't do a lot other than appealing when I had to and calling every couple of months. After being assessed for means, I called maybe another 4 to 5 times for clarification and to push it on a bit, all t's crossed and i's dotted at this stage. I chose this course of action as the best for me, but everyone is different. If you were calling me all the time and being annoying, I'd be putting you to the bottom of the pile, but that's me.

    cms33, I was of that opinion also, having asked a question about this on another thread. The answers varied from about 2 months to 4 months. I called Longford to ask and was told it could be 8 to 10 weeks, maybe more. As you can see from my post, I was totally gobsmacked to get my arrears this fast, but I note that you say you're collecting your claim from the Post Office, so maybe what I've said about arrears payment by cheque applies in those cases, who knows?


  • Registered Users Posts: 139 ✭✭Jasssss


    Cyvad, Where is your claim at the minute.Is it with the Appeal Office in Dublin or the Disability section in Longford.CMS33 ,how long did it take for your arrears to come through because i rang longford and was told that they are about 2 months behind dealing with arrears,now i dont know if she was trying to fob me off or what.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 28 Cyvad


    Jasssss, my claim is currently with the appeals office in Dublin. It was refused from Longford and appealed to Longford but the letter came back from Dublin.


  • Registered Users Posts: 66 ✭✭Bof No1


    If you haven't already done so, I'd be making a phone call to Dublin on Monday. Have all your relevant details to hand and ask whomsoever answers what the present situation is with your appeal. Take notes, date, time, name of person your talking to etc. At the end of the call, at least you'll have a base line from which to work and hopefully, some idea of what's happening.


  • Registered Users Posts: 28 Cyvad


    I called them last Monday gone. Was told that my appeal was in a "control area" waiting to be processed. Was also told that it would likely be 6 months before a decision was made


  • Registered Users Posts: 394 ✭✭livemusic4life


    Cyvad wrote: »
    I called them last Monday gone. Was told that my appeal was in a "control area" waiting to be processed. Was also told that it would likely be 6 months before a decision was made


    6 months! :( that sucks big time. Just keep banging in the doctors letters if any change occurs in your situation. I know they say you're not supposed to keep adding info, but i did. I kept sending stuff. I did searches for the comparable benefit in the uk, and the advice they give is much clearer than here. what you should send and what it should contain. So i just kept sending stuff. Make sure you pps number is on every page though.

    It really is making me mad reading these posts. How genuine people suffering can be treated like criminals. Unemployed get their benefits within 8 weeks. But the disabled are treated differently.


  • Registered Users Posts: 139 ✭✭Jasssss


    Cyvad,right your with the Appeals Office Dublin .Now they should have sent you a confirmation letter to say they received your Appeal.Then they ask Longford for your file and any comments they have on your case.THIS IS WHERE YOUR APPLICATION CAN GET DELAYED.Ask the Appeals office if they have received your file from Longford,if not Ring Disability Section and ask that your information be sent ASAP. Dont take too much notice of what the Appeals office said about six months and all,The guy told me that there was Thousands ahead of my son and that it would be the middle of this year before I heard anything.Once your file etc is sent up to the Appeals Office it waits in a queue for an Appeals Officer.You can then keep on ringing the appeals office and even ask one of your TD'S to help.But in all honesty once everything is with the Appeals office they will get to it.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,607 ✭✭✭tony1980


    My wife received a free travel pass in the post yesterday, I assume this means good news for her hopefully!


  • Registered Users Posts: 6 cms33


    tony1980 wrote: »
    My wife received a free travel pass in the post yesterday, I assume this means good news for her hopefully!

    Yes it means she's been passed for disability should get another letter soon with the date for your first payment,,, I got my pass 2 weeks befor Christmas an got my first payment last week now I'm just waiting on arrears to be paid I was told could be 4 months wait for it :(,, I tink its lot quicker if your getting paid in to the bank


  • Registered Users Posts: 66 ✭✭Bof No1


    Tony 1980, delighted with your good news, a long wait for you and your wife and probably a tough Christmas? Hope everything will be ok now, moving forward. Don't know about the arrears, speed of payment COULD have something to do with how you're paid and then again, maybe not. I just hope you don't have to wait too long.


  • Registered Users Posts: 394 ✭✭livemusic4life


    tony1980 wrote: »
    My wife received a free travel pass in the post yesterday, I assume this means good news for her hopefully!

    I got all mine in different envelopes on the same day, so i'm guessing your wife will get the rest tomorrow


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,607 ✭✭✭tony1980


    She gets paid through the bank, so hopefully she will be paid this week or next and we are praying she will get the arrears along with it, we have our daughters christening this Sat, so it would be a huge relief!


  • Registered Users Posts: 394 ✭✭livemusic4life


    tony1980 wrote: »
    She gets paid through the bank, so hopefully she will be paid this week or next and we are praying she will get the arrears along with it, we have our daughters christening this Sat, so it would be a huge relief!

    i hate to say it, but i wouldn't pin your hopes of getting the arrears yet. It'll probably be a few weeks yet :(


  • Registered Users Posts: 139 ✭✭Jasssss


    Brilliant News Tony1980.Its such a pain that your wife had to go through this in the first place,but still she finally got it back.


  • Registered Users Posts: 139 ✭✭Jasssss


    Sorry Cyvad how is your claim doing.Have you heard anything yet.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,607 ✭✭✭tony1980


    My wife got paid 249.00 last week and nothing this week, still no letter and no joy in getting through to them, have no idea what is going on, such a strange process!!


  • Registered Users Posts: 139 ✭✭Jasssss


    No way Tony1980.So your wife got her free Travel pass no letter and only one payment with nothing else this week.That is very strange.My son got letter first and the next day he got the travel pass.Have you rang to find out what's going on.Your wife had to be approved, they would hardly send her bus pass out if she was not approved but why has the letter not come and now you say there is no money in the bank. Tony1980 I know it drains you but just ring and find out.If you get no joy ask to speak to a supervisor and what normally happens is he/she will ring you back about an hour later.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,607 ✭✭✭tony1980


    To make a long story short, we got a letter saying what we were entitled to (Means Test) and it is pittance!! My wife has Ankylosing Spondylitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis and she has been on the disability allowance for 9 years, except for this short period it was taken off her and given back to her at a massively reduced rate. We have never thought of The Invalidity Pension which is not means tested, Would we be better off applying for this?(I know the wait time is huge but what choice have we!).
    We haven't paid January's rent yet which the landlord is ok with until next week as we are so stuck without her payment but they think we are fine financially without her payment, my wife is now feeling like all she is worth is this measly amount they offered her.
    She went to college and got a good degree and had intended on getting a good career and never planned on been out of work, she is so upset that she can't contribute anything financially to the house but she is too crippled to work, she just wishes she could wake up some mornings not in pain, she was at the hospital again today getting another infusion for AS and she is exhausted after it, I really wish I could meet that Joan Burton one :mad:


  • Registered Users Posts: 66 ✭✭Bof No1


    Hi tony1980, so sorry to hear of your plight, I really really feel for you. When the allowance was taken off your wife, she was receiving a particular rate, you now say that she's been given a much reduced means tested rate. What changed in your means, that has now led to this rate reduction?


  • Registered Users Posts: 28 Cyvad


    Hi folks. Still not sorted out yet but received a date for an oral hearing. Problem is that I am due to be best man for my friend in the uk the same week. The letter says the date cannot be changed except in exceptional circumstances. Will they make an exception for this or will they take the view that I should be available no matter what. Typical


  • Registered Users Posts: 66 ✭✭Bof No1


    Hi Cyvad, sorry to hear that you're still waiting, but at least it fits in with what you were told when you last posted, as in, " it could be up to 6 months before you hear from them". I can only tell you what I'd do, if I was in your situation and that would be to attend your appeal. If it's taken you this long to have your appeal heard, I can only assume it would be as long again before you'd get another hearing. I don't know your situation financially, but can you survive that extra wait? Can you go to the appeal and then fly out to your friend? Sorry I can't give better/happier advice, but whatever you decide, chin up and f--k the begrudgers!


  • Registered Users Posts: 28 Cyvad


    Spoke to them on the phone this morning and they are going to re schedule the appointment for me. What should I expect at this oral hearing. What kind of questions will I be asked? The lady told me it would be fairly soon


  • Registered Users Posts: 21 Dobs71


    Yep, and I could barely walk, all because my specialist letter didn't have the magic words "unfit for work for a minimum of 12 months"

    am I right in saying what you mean is that is on the application form for DA is that how long do you expect this condition to condition to last options from 0-3 months to indefinitely.
    My doctor wrote 'indefinitely' on my application form.


  • Registered Users Posts: 21 Dobs71


    Yep, and I could barely walk, all because my specialist letter didn't have the magic words "unfit for work for a minimum of 12 months"

    am I right in saying what you mean is that is on the application form for DA is that how long do you expect this condition to last the options were from 0-3 months to indefinitely.
    My doctor wrote 'indefinitely' on my application form.


  • Registered Users Posts: 394 ✭✭livemusic4life


    Dobs71 wrote: »
    Yep, and I could barely walk, all because my specialist letter didn't have the magic words "unfit for work for a minimum of 12 months"

    am I right in saying what you mean is that is on the application form for DA is that how long do you expect this condition to last the options were from 0-3 months to indefinitely.
    My doctor wrote 'indefinitely' on my application form.

    No, i don't mean on the application form. I mean on my specialist's letters. Terms like "for the foreseeable future" are pointlessness, they have to have the exact phrase "unfit for work for a minimum of 12 months"


  • Registered Users Posts: 21 Dobs71


    Ill get the relevant report when I see the doctor/surgeon as waiting times to see him are long on the medical card. long road ahead


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  • Registered Users Posts: 394 ✭✭livemusic4life


    Dobs71 wrote: »
    Ill get the relevant report when I see the doctor/surgeon as waiting times to see him are long on the medical card. long road ahead


    If you've seen him before then you can write to him and explain what you require. I don't think info from a gp is going to cut it to be honest.


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