Waiting list after waiting list - and no money

Elessar

Like many people, I am waiting for my dole to come through. Since I have absolutely no other income and still have expenses, I applied to the CWO for supplementary allowance today - as this is also designed to assist people financially until their welfare claim is processed.

Unfortunately I learned that there is at least a three week wait to get processed with the CWO aswell! Until that time, there is no other way I can get money, from anywhere. Since it is means tested, an officer from the health center has to make an appointment to see me (in my home I believe), and there is no guarantee that my claim will not take a further few weeks after that. A waiting list to assist those on a waiting list!

I am lucky enough that I live at home so I may be able get some assistance to pay my bills, but since recent tax hikes, the one earner in the home is already under more financial strain. I would hate to be living alone, or trying to feed a family if you've just lost your job!

There would be absolutely no problem if I could just receive what I am entitled to, it's the queue after endless queue that is the problem. My local CWO only sits twice a week for one hour and the HSE has not placed any extra staff to help cope with the demand. There was a queue of about 50 people in the health center! It was also nice to see that my local welfare office is closed today and thursdays, no one even processing claims.

Thanks for looking after your citizens, government!

Rant over.

artful_codger

use the savings you put in your bank when the times were good... you know, the savings you made from living at home all this time?

Elessar

Unfortunately mate those savings were all used up when I went back to college over the past 10 months! And no, there were no jobs going then either!

IT Loser

artful_codger wrote: »

use the savings you put in your bank when the times were good... you know, the savings you made from living at home all this time?

Another wiseguy.:rolleyes:

Xiney

artful_codger wrote: »

use the savings you put in your bank when the times were good... you know, the savings you made from living at home all this time?

Helpful comments only please.

cee_jay

Elessar wrote: »

Like many people, I am waiting for my dole to come through. Since I have absolutely no other income and still have expenses, I applied to the CWO for supplementary allowance today - as this is also designed to assist people financially until their welfare claim is processed.

Unfortunately I learned that there is at least a three week wait to get processed with the CWO aswell! Until that time, there is no other way I can get money, from anywhere. Since it is means tested, an officer from the health center has to make an appointment to see me (in my home I believe), and there is no guarantee that my claim will not take a further few weeks after that. A waiting list to assist those on a waiting list!

I am lucky enough that I live at home so I may be able get some assistance to pay my bills, but since recent tax hikes, the one earner in the home is already under more financial strain. I would hate to be living alone, or trying to feed a family if you've just lost your job!

There would be absolutely no problem if I could just receive what I am entitled to, it's the queue after endless queue that is the problem. My local CWO only sits twice a week for one hour and the HSE has not placed any extra staff to help cope with the demand. There was a queue of about 50 people in the health center! It was also nice to see that my local welfare office is closed today and thursdays, no one even processing claims.

Thanks for looking after your citizens, government!

Rant over.

Unfortunately the CWO is probably only sitting at your local clinic those times, and then has to head to another local clinic.
Your local office may have been closed to the public only - I doubt the staff were given the day off. It was probably to try and catch up and deal with the back log of claims they have - from getting them registered, decided, etc. etc.
But all sections and cogs in the wheel are extremely under staffed. No new staff are being hired externally I think across the board in all government departments, and a lot of those already in the civil service are not very happy to move to social welfare.
Here's hoping An Bord Snip doesn't make any recommendations for cuts at the clerical officer level in SW!

IT Loser

An Bord Snip have apparently identified €5Bn worth of, well, snips to be made.

8 weeks in and I am getting pretty snipped off myself.

lolli

its crazy, they seem to think that people can live on fresh air

Elessar

cAr0l wrote: »

Unfortunately the CWO is probably only sitting at your local clinic those times, and then has to head to another local clinic.
Your local office may have been closed to the public only - I doubt the staff were given the day off. It was probably to try and catch up and deal with the back log of claims they have - from getting them registered, decided, etc. etc.
But all sections and cogs in the wheel are extremely under staffed. No new staff are being hired externally I think across the board in all government departments, and a lot of those already in the civil service are not very happy to move to social welfare.
Here's hoping An Bord Snip doesn't make any recommendations for cuts at the clerical officer level in SW!

I assure you my local office has been open only three days a week since it was opened - it's a small portacabin so I could see into the back and there was no-one inside!

All I want is what I am entitled to! It shouldn't even take this long because I am claiming off my stamps, I am guaranteed to get it, they just need to click a button!

It's a joke all round.

Elessar

Update: I guess I spoke too soon. Got a letter today saying my SWA payments will go through thursday! I didn't need to meet an officer and the payments are going straight into my account

Processed in one day. I take back anything negative I said about the CWO

Lphant

Really? Here's a similar query. I went in to my CWO last wednesday morning, and gave him all the papers. However, I was missing one document I needed so he said no problem, just drop it into reception here by 5. So at half 4 I dropped in the envelope with the extra document. We'll get back to you by friday he said. Friday comes and goes, I hear nothing. Then today on Monday I get a letter in the post and think OK, heres my answer! Wrong. They posted me back my document, in an otherwise empty envelope. No word on whether or not I get anything.

Advice?

Elessar

Ring them? Did you mark the envelope to your CWO with your name on it? That's exactly what I had to do last thursday and on Friday my claim was processed.

Lphant

He marked the envelope himself with his name on it, and my name was all over the stuff inside. If nothing happens tomorrow I'll go down there again on wednesday. It's odd seeing as it seems to be so quick for everyone else.

shoegirl

Is it just me or is it a bit insane that due to staff in one welfare office being unable to cope forces applicants to apply twice for the same payment, not only doubling the amount of work required by overworked officers, but also adding extra paperwork for each other as presumably Social welfare have to transfer the payments from one department to another?

What kind of insane inefficient world is this government living in?

Mrs OBumble

Lphant wrote: »

They posted me back my document, in an otherwise empty envelope.

Stressed CWO having a blonde moment. Welfare did almost the same thing to me. Drop it back to 'em with a note explaining that it was accidentally sent to you instead of to where it should have gone.

Mrs OBumble

shoegirl wrote: »

Is it just me or is it a bit insane that due to staff in one welfare office being unable to cope forces applicants to apply twice for the same payment, not only doubling the amount of work required by overworked officers, but also adding extra paperwork for each other as presumably Social welfare have to transfer the payments from one department to another?

What kind of insane inefficient world is this government living in?

Yes, it's insane. Complain to your TD. Seriously: the staff in Welfare and CWOs are simply trying to administer very complex regulations with inadequate levels of staff and supporting resources (computer systems etc).

Neeties2

I bet mine has to be the longest wait ever. I am a single mother, i work 20 hours a week and that pays for my mortgage and thats it. I applied for some sort of allowance 7 months ago and i am still waiting. I get a child benefit of €166 per month and this is what myself and my son have to live off. I am trying my hardest to keep a roof over our heads but the bills are piling up i have to make sure the mortgage is paid and we eat but other than that nothing else gets paid. He is growing so fast and i can't even afford clothes/shoes for him. I am 27 and i have worked since i was 16 so i certainly have stamps, i have only been working partime for 7 months because i can't afford a mortgage and a creche. They came out and means tested me 9 weeks ago and told me it would only be another 4 weeks, when i call them there's no answer, when i go up there i have to wait one hour to be told there is nothing they can do its the regular waiting times. 7 MONTHS CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT????

IT Loser

Neeties2 wrote: »

I bet mine has to be the longest wait ever. I am a single mother, i work 20 hours a week and that pays for my mortgage and thats it. I applied for some sort of allowance 7 months ago and i am still waiting. I get a child benefit of €166 per month and this is what myself and my son have to live off. I am trying my hardest to keep a roof over our heads but the bills are piling up i have to make sure the mortgage is paid and we eat but other than that nothing else gets paid. He is growing so fast and i can't even afford clothes/shoes for him. I am 27 and i have worked since i was 16 so i certainly have stamps, i have only been working partime for 7 months because i can't afford a mortgage and a creche. They came out and means tested me 9 weeks ago and told me it would only be another 4 weeks, when i call them there's no answer, when i go up there i have to wait one hour to be told there is nothing they can do its the regular waiting times. 7 MONTHS CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT????

I thought you were waiting 7 months for dole. Sorry. Are you on the housing list?

Lphant

said id hear back on friday. todays tuesday and nothing. grrr.

Neeties2

IT Loser wrote: »

I thought you were waiting 7 months for dole. Sorry. Are you on the housing list?

No i'm not on the housing list i dont need them to house me because i am buying my house. I have it since before i had my son. I am just waiting for single parents allowance....there is a name for it but not sure what its called. I cant work fultime bcos the creches cost more than my mortgage does!!!!

Lphant

Lphant wrote: »

said id hear back on friday. todays tuesday and nothing. grrr.

It's been 2 weeks, and still nothing. Do I go back in? This is really annoying.

IT Loser

Lphant wrote: »

It's been 2 weeks, and still nothing. Do I go back in? This is really annoying.

2 weeks since what??

Lphant

Lphant wrote: »

Really? Here's a similar query. I went in to my CWO last wednesday morning, and gave him all the papers. However, I was missing one document I needed so he said no problem, just drop it into reception here by 5. So at half 4 I dropped in the envelope with the extra document. We'll get back to you by friday he said. Friday comes and goes, I hear nothing. Then today on Monday I get a letter in the post and think OK, heres my answer! Wrong. They posted me back my document, in an otherwise empty envelope. No word on whether or not I get anything.

Advice?

this.

IT Loser

Lphant wrote: »

this.

Apologies for my late response.

When I spoke to the Inspector in the Dole Office, he mentioned the CWO.

When I called into the HSE, they picked up this tatty, filthy little book, and had a look through it.

They told me that somebody by the name of Mr Wilson was my CWO.

Now, the thing about a CWO is that they are an individual, working under the auspices of the Dept. of Health.

All our dealings, normally, are with the Dept of Social Welfare. The minute you begin to mix and match Departments, I find, its a recipie for disaster.

As mentioned, the CWO, is an individual. You get smart individuals, sloppy individuals, concerned individuals, unconcerned, etc. The thing about Individuals, is, you have to keep on them. I suggest you ring- be angry, but dont get mad or offensive.

I will be going to see Mr Wilson next Wednesday. I will let you know how I get on.

Do you mind my asking, what document you were missing when you went in originally??

irish life

artful_codger wrote: »

use the savings you put in your bank when the times were good... you know, the savings you made from living at home all this time?

I live at home. I pay €300 a month rent. I got paid €1,700 a month after tax. Savings my arse. I got about 1 night out a week.

IT Loser

irish life wrote: »

I live at home. I pay €300 a month rent. I got paid €1,700 a month after tax. Savings my arse. I got about 1 night out a week.

I got as many nights out as I wanted. I just used to say "Daddy, I want a night out", and he would oblige. He would put me out for the night.;)

slackerdude

It does seem extraordinary that someone applying for welfare for July and August who will return to work in September is still waiting to hear back when the claim was made on 29 June. Surely, these temporary layoff cases should take priority over those where the person has lost a job.

IT Loser

slackerdude wrote: »

It does seem extraordinary that someone applying for welfare for July and August who will return to work in September is still waiting to hear back when the claim was made on 29 June. Surely, these temporary layoff cases should take priority over those where the person has lost a job.

Au contraire, surely somebody who has lost a job would take priority over someone who has lost a job for the time being