disability benefit v. invalidity pension

boomerang

Hi there,

I have been receiving illness benefit for three years now. I get a monthly cert from my GP that I send in to social welfare. I suffer from very debilitating anxiety and depression - I have just this week been diagnosed with a disorder.

Recently it came to my attention through a friend that I was entitled to apply for invalidity pension, so I filled in the forms and sent them off. While I would hope that I would be able to work in the future, it's off the cards for the moment.

I got a letter for my GP to complete indicating how soon she feels I will be able to return to work, and she is filling that out for me today. But she said I probably should have applied for disability benefit, not invalidity pension.

Now I'm totally confused and worried I did the wrong thing! Should I also now apply for disability benefit, or should I ring social welfare first and inform them that I am cancelling my application for invalidity pension? It's hard to know what to do and the waiting period for a decision on either takes so long, I'm loathe to draw out the process longer than I have to.

Would really appreciate any feedback/advice you guys may have.

mp22

Have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months (you will probably have been getting Illness Benefit or Disability Allowance during that time) from here http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/disability_and_illness/invalidity_pension.html

You can return to the work force from invalidity pensions any time you wish,it is a better bet if you are going to be ill for a long time.rehabilative work up to 19 and a half hours a week can be undertaken(fas or private with the appropriate permissions).A travel pass is also available,If you have a partner who is working there are tax benefits over disability benefit.

boomerang

Thanks very much, mp22. I really do want to get back to work, but it will take time. Maybe I should persevere with the application for invalidity pension then, and they will either reject the claim, or suggest I apply for disability allowance instead. Either would be better than illness benefit as it gives more security. I get very anxious over it.

mrsbyrne

boomerang wrote: »

Hi there,

I have been receiving illness benefit for three years now. I get a monthly cert from my GP that I send in to social welfare. I suffer from very debilitating anxiety and depression - I have just this week been diagnosed with a disorder.

Recently it came to my attention through a friend that I was entitled to apply for invalidity pension, so I filled in the forms and sent them off. While I would hope that I would be able to work in the future, it's off the cards for the moment.

I got a letter for my GP to complete indicating how soon she feels I will be able to return to work, and she is filling that out for me today. But she said I probably should have applied for disability benefit, not invalidity pension.

Now I'm totally confused and worried I did the wrong thing! Should I also now apply for disability benefit, or should I ring social welfare first and inform them that I am cancelling my application for invalidity pension? It's hard to know what to do and the waiting period for a decision on either takes so long, I'm loathe to draw out the process longer than I have to.

Would really appreciate any feedback/advice you guys may have.

hi boomerang. sorry your not well at the minute. im sure your GP means well, but illness benefit is disability benefit. we stopped calling it disability benefit a few years ago. maybe she meant to say disability allowance? its a means tested payment. If i were you i should leave things as they are for the moment. you've done the right thing applying for invalidity pension. just let the hare sit for a while. you will probably be waiting some time before you get a response from invalidity, as they are very busy. if your application is successful you will get free travel, you might get some other extras, and you wont have to send in any more certs.;). plus, its a little bit more money. i hope you are successful.

boomerang

Thanks mrsbyrne,

That's very reassuring and you're very kind. I know there's a very good chance my claim for invalidity pension will be rejected but it would be such a load off my mind if I were successful. I have been called for medical assessment now, so let's see how that goes. Should I bring a letter from my GP do you think?

mrsbyrne

boomerang wrote: »

Thanks mrsbyrne,

That's very reassuring and you're very kind. I know there's a very good chance my claim for invalidity pension will be rejected but it would be such a load off my mind if I were successful. I have been called for medical assessment now, so let's see how that goes. Should I bring a letter from my GP do you think?

Bring all the ammunition you can, GPs letter, specialist's letter anything you can get. once again good luck.

boomerang

I got the bad news last week that my application for invalidity pention was not allowed. I feel it is very unfair and want to appeal it, but the information from the Department is a bit confusing.

The letter says a Medical Advisor/Assessor examined my case and expressed the opinion I was not permanently incapbable of work.

However, the letter says that a person is regarded as being permanently incapable of work if -

"For the period of 1 year immediately before the date of application the person had been continuously incapable of work (true in my case) and a Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the person is likely to continue to be incapable of work for at least another year." (This would be true in my case, whether or not the Deciding Officer agrees.)

- or - "a Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the likelihood is that the person will be incapable of work for life."

Is the Medical Assessor who reviewed my claim also the Decididing Officer in my case?

It's very confusing.

And to whom should I appeal? The Deciding Officer in my case, or the Chief Appeals Officer in Dublin?

Any advice would be hugely appreciated.

I am very sorry now I didn't know to apply for disability benefit, and not invalidity pension.

irishpancake

boomerang wrote: »

I got the bad news last week that my application for invalidity pention was not allowed. I feel it is very unfair and want to appeal it, but the information from the Department is a bit confusing.

The letter says a Medical Advisor/Assessor examined my case and expressed the opinion I was not permanently incapbable of work.

However, the letter says that a person is regarded as being permanently incapable of work if -

"For the period of 1 year immediately before the date of application the person had been continuously incapable of work (true in my case) and a Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the person is likely to continue to be incapable of work for at least another year." (This would be true in my case, whether or not the Deciding Officer agrees.)

- or - "a Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the likelihood is that the person will be incapable of work for life."

Is the Medical Assessor who reviewed my claim also the Decididing Officer in my case?

It's very confusing.

And to whom should I appeal? The Deciding Officer in my case, or the Chief Appeals Officer in Dublin?

Any advice would be hugely appreciated.

I am very sorry now I didn't know to apply for disability benefit, and not invalidity pension.

Hi boomerang, sorry to hear about the bad news you received regarding your IP application, also about your continuing Illness/Disability.

I feel you are confusing things here, with respect to the Benefit/Payment you are currently on.

From your OP:

I have been receiving illness benefit for three years now. I get a monthly cert from my GP that I send in to social welfare. I suffer from very debilitating anxiety and depression - I have just this week been diagnosed with a disorder.

I think it has already been said, but Illness Benefit is actually what used to be called Disability Benefit.....This is a non-means tested Benefit, based on your PRSI record.

There is no Payment called Disability Benefit now at all.......you are getting what was called Disability Benefit up until a few years ago.

Also, as you have been getting this payment, based on Doctors Certificate, and you have been getting it for 3 years, there is no time limiting factor where IB runs out after 2 years. This was introduced in 2009 Budget.

You are still sending in Monthly Certs, I presume, and your Doctor is happy to supply these, based on her medical opinion, you will continue to get your Illness Benefit, although you could be called for Medical Assessment at any time, just so you know, it could happen.

Best of luck, and if you appeal this, be prepared, with Specialists Reports, etc.

Have you considered asking for a Review of your Application, before going to Appeal? I think it is allowed.

This can happen a lot faster, and you could submit additional evidence from Specialists, etc.

If rejected again, you can then Appeal, and this will take months, at least.

I would read up the SW Operational Guidelines for further useful information, link below:

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/Pages/invalidity.aspx#part2

Also, see this thread, hope springs eternal:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=74249897

boomerang

Thanks

Sorry, I meant disability allowance, not disability benefit.

I have written a letter today for the attention of the Deciding Officer in my case, outlining the reasons why I am unfit to return to work in the next twelve months. There really isn't any more information that my GP or consultant can supply.

Kristopherus

boomerang wrote: »

Thanks

Sorry, I meant disability allowance, not disability benefit.

I have written a letter today for the attention of the Deciding Officer in my case, outlining the reasons why I am unfit to return to work in the next twelve months. There really isn't any more information that my GP or consultant can supply.

Dsisability Allowance is a means tested payment. And the money is the same as what you are getting now.

I support what Irishpancake says. Whatever way the cookie crumbles, you will not end up getting less than what you are currently getting.

irishpancake

boomerang wrote: »

Thanks

Sorry, I meant disability allowance, not disability benefit.

I have written a letter today for the attention of the Deciding Officer in my case, outlining the reasons why I am unfit to return to work in the next twelve months. There really isn't any more information that my GP or consultant can supply.

Sorry, but it makes no sense whatsoever to transition from a non-means tested Benefit (Illness Benefit) to a means tested Allowance (Disability Allowance)

As I said, you are on IB, which will continue as long as your doctor is satisfied to certify you as too ill to work, and luckily, you have this from before the 2-year limit was imposed, Jan 2009.

I simply cannot see the logic in what you are proposing.

Also, if all you are submitting is a personal letter or statement for review, I would not see this as being successful, hope I am wrong, but I would definitely be submitting additional information, from Doctors, Consultants,etc.

I have been through this (on behalf of my wife), and can definitely say you will need more than a strongly-worded letter from yourself for any hope of success.

boomerang

I only regret not applying for disability allowance instead because it seems more appropriate for me than invalidity pension, as I do foresee being able to return to work in the future. Means testing is not an issue for me as I have no other income than my illness benefit.

Anyways now I have to await a response from the Deciding Officer. I'm here looking for guidance, as the whole application system is labyrinthine to say the least!

Unfortunately it is much more difficult to document mental illness than a physical impairment. I have already submitted supporting documentation from my GP and consultant. All they can do is repeat themselves at this point. What I have written today is an outline of how my illness has repeatedly affected my work history over the last ten years to the point that not only is another episode of the illness inevitable, but that it precludes me from being able to keep down a job for any length of time.

skippy2

I think you are doing the right thing but this is a slow process as i have just experienced when i applied for Invalidity Pension.
However i had no choice as i was after the deadline so had Illness benefit for only two years max.
I also appealed to the deciding officer, rejected, but am fairly sure you will be rejected on this also, I think its par for the course in the present circumstances in the country.
You can then appeal to the Appeals Office in Dublin, this is Independent from Social Welfare but it took over 12 months for my appeal to be heard. So expect the wait but in your case you will still be getting your payment anyway.
If you cannot get more from your medical people I think you need to document how this is affecting you personally and use this in your appeal
Invalidity Pension is not means tested, means you also don't have to send in certs so will save on paying a doc for these etc.
Don't worry about it and let it proceed at whatever pace it does, you will get there eventually.

Best of luck

boomerang

Thanks for the moral support, Skippy2

I hope the appeal went well for you?

dannyboy13

boomerang wrote: »

Hi there,

I have been receiving illness benefit for three years now. I get a monthly cert from my GP that I send in to social welfare. I suffer from very debilitating anxiety and depression - I have just this week been diagnosed with a disorder.

Recently it came to my attention through a friend that I was entitled to apply for invalidity pension, so I filled in the forms and sent them off. While I would hope that I would be able to work in the future, it's off the cards for the moment.

I got a letter for my GP to complete indicating how soon she feels I will be able to return to work, and she is filling that out for me today. But she said I probably should have applied for disability benefit, not invalidity pension.

Now I'm totally confused and worried I did the wrong thing! Should I also now apply for disability benefit, or should I ring social welfare first and inform them that I am cancelling my application for invalidity pension? It's hard to know what to do and the waiting period for a decision on either takes so long, I'm loathe to draw out the process longer than I have to.

Would really appreciate any feedback/advice you guys may have.

hi. I found your post about disability oral hearing. I have one this Thursday. could you tell me what should I expect? I'm terrified to go! who will be there? what they ask? was you succesfull and how did you do it? I heard that 80% of cases are turned down. how can I prepare myself for this?!
thank you very much for any tips!
regards

YumDeiseMum

boomerang wrote: »

I got the bad news last week that my application for invalidity pention was not allowed.

Unfortunately this is normal, about 90% are rejected initially.

boomerang wrote: »

And to whom should I appeal? The Deciding Officer in my case, or the Chief Appeals Officer in Dublin?

Be prepared for a very long wait from D'Olier House, a friend of mine appealed August 2010 and it still hasnt been dealt with

billiejean123

Hi. I would really like some advice on this thread.

I went onto Illness Benefit after a severe flare up of psoriasis back in 2010 after having a baby. I then took depression. I still don't know if it was PND or due to the psoriasis and other emotional factors in my life. I think it is a mix of things now. My GP started to treat me for depression in Feb 2011 and I see the dermatologist about my skin.

I was lucky to get an exemption to do a CE scheme to learn news skills, get my confidence back etc. I feel like I am only doing that now and my year is up. My FAS Supervisors feel that it would benefit me to stay on the scheme for another year. I do not know what happens now as FAS want me to stay and have given me permission but I have no exemption yet or any paperwork about it. I believe my right to illness benefit expires in August 2012.

I suffered a relapse when I went off my meds for depression so there is much work to do in strengthening my health and also much work to do in strengthening my ability to work because of it. I feel like would benefit from what CE can offer me but will they?

Would they grant an extra year when my 1st year is up in July and my IB finishes in August? Can I transfer to another benefit? If I have to appeal any of this will I have any payment?