Disability Allowance?

Irishchick

livemusic4life wrote: »

Having gone through DA application with very similar complaints to yourself, let me give you some advice.

Don't wait to apply, as long as you have enough stamps to cover you, you will get illness benefit while you wait for DA.

Start compiling a diary, 7am had to be helped out of bed.
8am took my tablets. 9am had difficulty putting my shoes and socks on. Anything that affects your life over the course of a few days or a week. Its not required, but it personally made a big difference to my application - i was refused quite a lot of times even though i couldn't put one foot infront of the other.

You have to get medical assessments for Illness benefit right? (i was on injury benefit due to an occupational injury and i had to go for medical assessments) If you do get called for a medical assessment, phone the number at the bottom and ask if they can give you your assessment for DA at the same time - I did this eventually, and it worked out okay.

Its tough going. If you need letters from your specialists - remember to get the all important words in. Not fit for work for at least 12 months. This is the requirement that they turn people down for most. I wrote to all my specialists and asked them to specifically write this down, and they all did.


The next one that people in our age bracket get turned down for is, should your illness or injury stop you doing work that is appropriate for your age range. It may well be worth investing in an occupational Therapist report. I don't think they're cheap, but if some days you cannot even hold a pen, then an OT is the person to say it and get the SW to listen.

Make photocopies of everything. Everything, because they lose stuff all the time.

You sound like you should be okay, but really, you just don't know how long or what requirements. Younger people seem to have a tougher time.

Good luck.
PM if you need anything

Thanks for all the info

The doc is filling out the report for me and im sending it away tomorrow.

How many times did you have to appeal?

livemusic4life

Irishchick wrote: »

Thanks for all the info

The doc is filling out the report for me and im sending it away tomorrow.

How many times did you have to appeal?

Four. Just make sure your GP does mark "more than 12 months" and not the "indefinitely" option. Indefinitely is not good enough.

Another thing, if you are turned down (hopefully you won't be, but just incase) ask for an "oral review". That will be an assessment with one of the departments doctors. Usually they don't even have you seen by a doctor before turning you down. The advice i got was from an inside source at the department. Not my inside source obviously, but a friend of a friend who got the best advice they could for me. Get your diary filled out. you can do it tonight for the last few days. 3 days should be okay. make special note of any time you needed help or couldn't do something because of your pain. Don't feel guilty, sometimes you really do have to play the game.

Irishchick

livemusic4life wrote: »

Four. Just make sure your GP does mark "more than 12 months" and not the "indefinitely" option. Indefinitely is not good enough.

Another thing, if you are turned down (hopefully you won't be, but just incase) ask for an "oral review". That will be an assessment with one of the departments doctors. Usually they don't even have you seen by a doctor before turning you down. The advice i got was from an inside source at the department. Not my inside source obviously, but a friend of a friend who got the best advice they could for me. Get your diary filled out. you can do it tonight for the last few days. 3 days should be okay. make special note of any time you needed help or couldn't do something because of your pain. Don't feel guilty, sometimes you really do have to play the game.

I got my form back from the docs today and I looked at it when I went home. I'm really upset as he marked everything as moderate even though I can barley walk and he wrote unknown in the timeframe instead of 12-24 months.

I sent it away anyway but I know it will probably 100% be denied now.

Sitting here almost crying in pain yet that's only moderate

Sorry for the rant

livemusic4life

Irishchick wrote: »

I got my form back from the docs today and I looked at it when I went home. I'm really upset as he marked everything as moderate even though I can barley walk and he wrote unknown in the timeframe instead of 12-24 months.

I sent it away anyway but I know it will probably 100% be denied now.

Sitting here almost crying in pain yet that's only moderate

Sorry for the rant

Don't panic, mine said moderate too. Moderate for your age is not a good thing. Just take a breath :-)

Irishchick

livemusic4life wrote: »

Don't panic, mine said moderate too. Moderate for your age is not a good thing. Just take a breath :-)

Ok thanks for telling me that I thought unless you are severe or profound it would be an automatic no

Dobs71

The Doc ticked moderate on mine and also on the other ones, Don't add stress to yourself as live4music said be ready for an appeal have your information ready.
To be honest I was the same when I saw what the doc wrote on my application I said to myself I haven't a chance of getting DA.
Irishchick don't worry if you have to appeal then appeal sometimes the department of social Protection do this and people take from there that they have no chance of getting DA so they don't appeal.

Irishchick

Thanks for that I feel a bit calmer now.

In bits today you'd know the rain is back!

Roquentin

Hi

i am wondering can you use files from two different doctors in your application? I used live in roscommon but move to a different place. So my old doctor would have most of my files. or you get the new doctor to request the files from the old doctor?

livemusic4life

Roquentin wrote: »

Hi

i am wondering can you use files from two different doctors in your application? I used live in roscommon but move to a different place. So my old doctor would have most of my files. or you get the new doctor to request the files from the old doctor?

As far as I can remember it asks how long your gp has been your gp

Roquentin

livemusic4life wrote: »

As far as I can remember it asks how long your gp has been your gp

so can i put down the two gps then?

livemusic4life

Roquentin wrote: »

so can i put down the two gps then?

I don't know to be honest but if you say this gp has been my gp for two years for example. They'll know you had a different gp before and you can always add a note explaining it.

Roquentin

livemusic4life wrote: »

I don't know to be honest but if you say this gp has been my gp for two years for example. They'll know you had a different gp before and you can always add a note explaining it.

cheers thanks

tomtom926a

Hello everyone. Has anyone here had an oral hearing ? I'm not sure what to expect and nervous about it to be honest

livemusic4life

tomtom926a wrote: »

Hello everyone. Has anyone here had an oral hearing ? I'm not sure what to expect and nervous about it to be honest

oh yes, i certainly have. its pretty stress free to be honest. i will give you a tip of wearing slip on shoes. whether you know it or not they watch everything you do, even how you put on your jacket or how you put on your shoes or get on and off the couch. They'll just ask you to reiterate what happened to you, what your issues are, what medical investigations and treatments you've had done, what medication you're on and any on going treatment. then a little physical exam. try to have your dates memorized or written down.
It isn't a bad experience to be honest, it does take a while, about 40 minutes, but stay on your toes.

tomtom926a

Thank you for replying. I'm actually quite nervous to be honest

tomtom926a

Just a quick update. Went to the meeting I had today for my appeal and I think myself it went ok was not long in there thank goodness. Was not what I thought it would be thank goodness. Was told that I will have a descision in writting in 4-5 weeks. Thanks to everyone who helped out with advice and words of kindness

tomtom926a

Got a letter from the appeals crowd saying my appeal has been allowed and they have written to the d.a dept. How long till I know when my payment starts

Dobs71

tomtom926a wrote: »

Got a letter from the appeals crowd saying my appeal has been allowed and they have written to the d.a dept. How long till I know when my payment starts

I am delighted for you tomtom.

livemusic4life

tomtom926a wrote: »

Got a letter from the appeals crowd saying my appeal has been allowed and they have written to the d.a dept. How long till I know when my payment starts

Usually says on the letter. Mine was 2 weeks but it took quite a while for the arrears to be paid though

tomtom926a

livemusic4life wrote: »

Usually says on the letter. Mine was 2 weeks but it took quite a while for the arrears to be paid though

there was no payment date mentioned on the letter

tomtom926a

The letter just said my appeal has been allowed and all contact is to go to the social themselves now

Gary_Mc_Cork

Hi ive received a lot of info from reading this post but just wanted to give some background regarding my case,

I was diagnosed with crohns disease about 2 months ago after an appendix surgery where they realised after a biopsy that my appendix was perfect and my pain was coming from my bowel. I have had c.t scans , xrays, mri and every blood test yunder the sun and had to spend 3 horrible weeks stuck in a hospital bed .
After being released i was put on a treatment plan of budesonide steroids and pentasa and painkillers, but nearly 5 weeks later I still dont feel any bit better and havent been able to leave my house for more than 5 minutes at a time due to symtoms.

I was supposed to enter my second year of sports rec and leisure in college this month but this year is completely out the window because of this stupid disease.

I am having problems with the social welfare at the moment and have missed signing days while in hospital and because of not being able to move from my house . I am 20 and really feel like this disease is going to change everything about my life forever.

I just wanted to know would I be better off waiting to see my specialist again and get a letter from him and my gp before going through the claim process which seems like it has given so much stress and anger to the people of this forum.

Thanks in advance for any replies and thanks for taking the time to even read this post as this is the first time I have vented about my experience of the last few months .

looksee

That all sounds miserable Gary, and I have no experience to offer you any help. It does sound as though you need some support though and if your GP is any way helpful that might be the first place to check. Have you phoned social welfare to explain your situation? even if only to tell them why you missed signing dates - I could be wrong but I think if you are in hospital or sick you will be on a different system.

I presume you have been onto your college to see about deferring your second year?

Gary_Mc_Cork

Hi thanks for such a quick reply , I have no medical history before this so the 1st time i saw my doctor was only recently to fill out my hospital prescriptions . I dont want to say my gp doesnt care but I do think it would of helped to have a relationship with my doctor before all this happened.

I have explained it to social welfare and also gave them a doctors cert for the last signing day but if this is going to be a regular thing I would at least like to know i will be secure and not cut off . That is when i saw a citizens advice page about disability benefit and then stumbled upon this boards forum .

I have been in contact with college and they have been extremely helpful my plan was to get my 2nd year of sports rec and coaching done and then go to UCC for PE teaching next year, but now i just hope by nex year I will be in some condition to participate in college.

Whats confusing me right now is what should my next step be and do I have a valid case for disability allowance as ive heard how harsh they can be in declining serious medical conditions.

Thanks again.

Dobs71

Sorry to hear about your Illness Gary, the lads on here a great and the advice is from people that have experience with the application process, I for one am so grateful to the posters on this forum. If i can recall a friend in his mid 20's with Croinins he is currently on the illness pension so he had no other medical complaints and ye he got no probs.
Now college i would not worry about it as you can defer it until you sort yourself out.
Are you still getting the dole, or have you been transferred to the community welfare officer?
you should go down to the social and get an application and go to your doc as he/she will or should have received information on you from the hospital and if not then you can get confirmation from the hospital of your disease.
DO APPLY

Gary_Mc_Cork

Yeah even just reading this thread has given me a lot of info so thanks to the people who have posted already.

I am receiving jobseekers allowance at the moment and i know i dont have the PRSI contributions to qualify for illness benefit , I am definately going to get an application form should I then make a doctor appointment and ask him to fill it out? I just feel weird because he doesnt no me and he cant see the symtoms of it or how it affecrs me everyday since leaving hospital so can imagine him filling it out saying that im absolutely perfect .

Thanks for the help so far i was in two minds to comment this morning but im already happy that I did.

looksee

Your doctor can see from your hospital record what your condition is. Don't write him off till you have seen him, don't be afraid to tell him what your current state is, and by the sound of things you should be getting both financial and medical support to deal with your situation, not sitting at home worrying about it

CiDeRmAn

looksee wrote: »

Your doctor can see from your hospital record what your condition is. Don't write him off till you have seen him, don't be afraid to tell him what your current state is, and by the sound of things you should be getting both financial and medical support to deal with your situation, not sitting at home worrying about it

This is completely true.
Your GP isn't diagnosing you in isolation, he or she will be using your medical history courtesy of your file and, most importantly, your own verbal description of symptoms and house this is affecting you.
From this the GP will infer your condition and what degree of support you may need.
Have a little faith I guess.

Dobs71

Gary every case/illness is different it can affect you very bad that you can't go about your daily routine, and other people can manage the illness, as I said my friend like you could not go out side the house, and he would have to use a toilet and when he got stressed he used to suffer bad.
it is very important that you do speak to your doctor for a number of reasons, as you are young and your illness could be affecting your mental health and quality of life. While you are there ask all the questions about your illness and where you will be in a year or two from now, then get him to fill out your application for DA cant see a problem you should be ok, as other posters said they got knocked and appealed the decision and won there case so I would advise you to the same.

livemusic4life

Gary, take my advice and get the ball rolling asap. Get a letter fro your college to say you won't be back. Print out your disability allowance forms - chrons doesn't just go away, get your community welfare officers details and print your form for supplementary welfare. Your doc will definitely fill your forms for you. Your condition can be serious. Doctors know better than we do how it will affect you in the future. If you don't feel confident leaving the house. Phone the drs secretary and ask doc to phone you. Consultation by phone. Explain yourself. Tell him form will be posted to him and you would be grateful if he could fill it out. Its a tough process but you need this time to recover and get yourself strong.