Disability allowance decision taking over 3years to be approved

spacecookie555

Hi all im looking for some advice for a friend of mine. She has been applying for the disability allowance for over 3years now. She has been denied 3 times and has appealed each time.
She has severe epilepsy, actually the doctor reported it as profound which is worse than severe apparently. She fits at least 2 or 3 times a day, sometimes for over an hour at a time. She is on a cocktail of medication and she has also been diagnosed with bipolar and depression, shes also taking meds for these.
She has been up to beaumount hospital in dublin a ridiculous amount of times to adjust her meds but nothings improving. She has passed the means test for disability, has got the medical reports from the specialists and has met every requirement they put to her. But theyre still refusing to give it to her. The community welfare is refusing to help her out aswel, they told her she should forget about disability and just go for jobseekers or something but she physically cant work.
Any advice on this would be so helpful because for the last 3years she has been struggling on €20 a week (its all her father can afford anymore). And its really affecting her mental health at this stage because she just cant deal with the stress anymore.

SerialComplaint

Might be worth seeing if the National Advocacy Service can help her out.

spacecookie555

SerialComplaint wrote: »

Might be worth seeing if the National Advocacy Service can help her out.

Ill say that to her, thanks a million!

Maura74

Get her doctor to write to them as well as her TD. This is ridiculous. If that does not work write the media. How can they do this to a disabled person is beyond belief. :mad::mad:

spacecookie555

Maura74 wrote: »

Get her doctor to write to them as well as her TD. This is ridiculous. If that does not work write the media. How can they do this to a disabled person is beyond belief. :mad::mad:

You know what, everything you said is exactly how I feel! Its disgusting how theyre treating her! Shes thinking of threatening to go to the media aswel, the only thing is shes so quite, very shy person. And this whole thing has put her confidence through the floor to boot. I hate to see things like that happening to anyone and I feel so powerless to help you know?
Thanks so much for your comment Maura

Maura74

spacecookie555 wrote: »

You know what, everything you said is exactly how I feel! Its disgusting how theyre treating her! Shes thinking of threatening to go to the media aswel, the only thing is shes so quite, very shy person. And this whole thing has put her confidence through the floor to boot. I hate to see things like that happening to anyone and I feel so powerless to help you know?
Thanks so much for your comment Maura

What does her doctor say about it, go with her the next time as she may be too shy to tell the doctor how she feels and you would be able to help her with that. Tell doctor that she is getting very depressed about how she is being treated by these people and see what s/he says.

You got to keep on these people heels all the time and I know that can be exhausting when you are not feeling well.

Best of Luck.

Nelly2

spacecookie555 wrote: »

for the last 3years she has been struggling on €20 a week

Is there any particular reason why she's not getting Supplementary Welfare Allowance?

skate22

spacecookie555 wrote: »

Hi all im looking for some advice for a friend of mine. She has been applying for the disability allowance for over 3years now. She has been denied 3 times and has appealed each time.
She has severe epilepsy, actually the doctor reported it as profound which is worse than severe apparently. She fits at least 2 or 3 times a day, sometimes for over an hour at a time. She is on a cocktail of medication and she has also been diagnosed with bipolar and depression, shes also taking meds for these.
She has been up to beaumount hospital in dublin a ridiculous amount of times to adjust her meds but nothings improving. She has passed the means test for disability, has got the medical reports from the specialists and has met every requirement they put to her. But theyre still refusing to give it to her. The community welfare is refusing to help her out aswel, they told her she should forget about disability and just go for jobseekers or something but she physically cant work.
Any advice on this would be so helpful because for the last 3years she has been struggling on €20 a week (its all her father can afford anymore). And its really affecting her mental health at this stage because she just cant deal with the stress anymore.

Hi Just read this and it is an absolute disgrace. If your friend had to apply for JSA they probably wouldn't give her that either because as you said she can't work. You should go to the ombudsman and let them take up the case. Send an e-mail outlining the reasons why she was turned down and why she is not happy with the decision. They are fairly quick to reply and will let you know if you have a case or not. Also as she is not working tell her to apply for legal aid and a solicitor might be able to help. And legal aid can also provide a solicitor that deals in Welfare Law. I know there is a waiting list for legal aid and it is means tested but from reading your post that shouldn't be a problem.

Best of Luck :rolleyes:

spacecookie555

I just want thanks to everyone who commented on this thread, your amazing people. To date we have letters written up for the local radio and newspapers. She have an appointment with a different community welfare officer because personally I think the other had a bit of a personal biased.
Weve been to see a local minister and we have his support and ive tried to contact the national advocacy agency but I cant find a number or email, if anyone could help on that it would be great.
I never thought of the ombudsman but I think he will be our next port of call. Thanks again everyone youre in line for some good karma haha, seriously though xxx

Suzybie

Hi

I work for the National Advocacy Service. Not sure where you and your friend are based. All the info on the contact numbers is here http://www.citizensinformationboard.ie/services/advocacy_services/

If you are in Dublin please feel free to call me - Suzy Byrne - otherwise call the administrator or advocate for the area that you are based in?

Hope you get the support you need!

S