Anxiety/Depression

I'm currently on medication (anti-psychotics) and in receipt of JSA. The thing is as of two years ago I started feeling very anxious and nervous while out and about. I was just down town and I suddenly felt afraid, terribly afraid. Since then the only place I feel safe these days is at home and I'm struggling to cope. I've struggled on with it though but I'm finding it hard. I was on anti-depressants for many years and when I went off them I suffered a psychosis. I saw a counsellor who thankfully saved me and put me on my current pills and everything was better for a while. But unfortunately my mental health is causing me trouble again.

What I'm finding hardest is the monthly sign on at the dole office for my JSA. My anxiety is magnified because it's so busy and crowded these days and having to wait in long queues. I have no trouble going to the post office to collect my weekly pay.

I'm not a waster. I don't drink or smoke or go out on the tear over weekends. My counseller said I had "all the call signs of someone who was traumatised". I was wondering if I could qualify for Disability Allowance and therefore not have to suffer through the monthly signing on agony anymore? It'd be a help. I've gotten so down about things I sometimes think about ending it all. Any help would be appreciated.

stacexD

Sorry to hear about your illness!
My mother has been on illness benefit for nearly 4 years now I think, with depression. The money goes straight into her bank account and a monthyl cert from the doc has to be sent into the sw office (my dad does that).
We were advised that invalidity pension is the way to go for her rather than disability. She has applied for that now but theres a ridiculously long waiting time to hear back about it.
It really is worth getting onto your sw office about (or get someone to do it for you) You'd be surprised how being on the wrong sw payment can effect other things. For instance in my mothers case, when my dad got laid off her payment was considered as income so he was means tested when applying for jobseekers, and when I went to college I got around €3000 grant which should have been €6000 but I didn't qualify as she should have been on a more long-term payment.
Also, invalidity pension qualifies for the household benefits package (money towards esb, phone, heating, bus pass etc)

im invisible

Id say the first thing to do is to get an appointment with a psychologist/ psychotherapist, if you are not seeing one already, you should be able to print a form off on-line, or get one from your CWO to bring to your GP and get him to fill in, you need proof that you are actively trying to deal with it as best you can, and just saying you're taking medication for it wont do, (in my opinion/ experience)

good luck with it anyway

boodee

hi,
It will take a while to get sorted but it'll be worth it in the long run.

You will need all and any treatment, medications and a written diagnosis to get invalidity pension. I am currently going down a similar roaad and you have got to be prepared to fight for it, especially now as they money just isn't there. But for genuine cases, like yoursself, I think if you have all the relevent paperwork you will get it. I have read many places that you'll be knocked back first time just as another hoop to jump so be prepared for that.

Good luck and I wish you well, take care.

cee_jay

VanZan depending on your PRSI contributions you may qualify for Illness Benefit. Your local office will let you know if you have the required contributions for this. In fact, the information desk in your local office will be able to tell you which scheme is best for you.
Invalidity Pension is really for conditions that will affect you in the longer term - something that would make you permanently incapable of work.
Your first step of call should be your doctor, ask him for a social welfare cert - when you hand this in, it will open an illness benefit claim, and you can then close your Jobseeker's claim (which you should do anyway as you are not fit for work currently).
You could also claim Disability Allowance - there can be long waiting period for this, so get your claim in asap. Bring your form along to your CWO and ask them to send it off for you - they will then see you have either opened your illness benefit claim, or are applying for DA. They can pay you supplementary welfare allowance then in the interim.
Best of luck with it.

Lugh Ildanach

If you are going to apply for Disability Allowance do NOT close your Jobseekers Allowance claim.

If you apply for Disability Allowance directly from a Jobseekers claim, you can continue to receive your Jobseekers payment while they decide your Disability claim.

If you stop your Jobseekers payment, and then make a claim from nothing, you must apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (which is paid at a slightly lower rate, and is more restrictive).


http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/Pages/ja_jobseekall.aspx#condcapwork

JA Entitlement pending Disability Allowance (DA) Decision
(a) Where a person applies for DA while in receipt of JA
Where a person applies for DA while in receipt of JA, the JA payment should continue pending the result of the DA claim (including appeal, where applicable). NOTE:- Disability Allowance may be disallowed on grounds of failing to satisfy the medical eligibility criteria for receipt of DA. This means that the DA section/MR do not declare that the claimant is fit for work, but that s/he has failed to satisfy the MR/Advisor that s/he is not "..substantially restricted...".

In such cases the Deciding Officer should:

notify Disability Allowance Section that JA/ JB is in payment and confirm that the person has lodged an application/appeal
keep the claim under continuous review to ascertain the result of application/appeal.
When the outcome is known, the DO should;

if the application/appeal has been successful, notify the DA section of the amount of JA/ JB that has been paid during the overlapping period so that it will be treated as paid on account of the DA.
If the application/appeal has not been successful, continue payment of JA/ JB subject to all conditions being satisfied.

(b) Where a person applies for JA following DA Disallowance

1.Where the DA disallowance is not under appeal, the claim should be decided in the normal way, with due regard to the requirement to be capable of work, available for full-time work and genuinely seeking employment.
2.Where the DA disallowance is under appeal, JA is not payable. Persons in this position whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and the needs of their adult or child dependant(s) should be advised to apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA).

neemish

was on disability allowance for four years with depression - can take a while to go through, but took alot of the worry away about money. When I went back to work, i was even allowed to keep it for six months as a "back up" in case things didnt work out. The amount reduced but they kept my claim open.

And now that i am working full time, I still have a medical card which means I can afford both meds and counselling, etc.

Needless to say, all of this has been above board. I wouldnt be able to cope with the anxiety of being dishonest!

periwinkle

You've been lucky with the system neemish.

I've suffered with depression for ten years and was recently diagnosed bipolar. I have been on illness benefit for four years. I appplied for invalidity pension last year but was told I'm not permanently incapable of work. It is gone to appeal now and I have no idea how it will turn out.

I personally know of two people with invalidity pension who are shams. It feels like honesty gets you nowhere.

saa

Help!

A little bit concerned about my little brother, I know when he leaves school he probably won't be capable of working for a long time if ever I assume he will be entitled to illness benefit.. but citizens advice says he must have paid a certain amount of PRSI to claim..

.. but he's not able to work how can he have 5 years contributions made

-confused

Your brother will be entitled to claim disability allowance but the rates might be depending on his age and who he lives with - I honestly don't really know - but I don't have enough PRSI paid to claim illness benefit and am on DA.