Dis Allowance Saga/Arrears/H Benefits

struggling sam

The saga is over and maybe there is some info in this to help people.

Oct. 2010 Applied for Disability Allowance.

Sept. 2011 Application denied.
Sept. 2011 Appeal sent in.
April 2011 Appeal disallowed.

Advised by GP to re-apply.

July 2011 Application In

27 March 2012-"DA awarded", their word not mine! No change in medical condition, no new documentary evidence presented!

First DA payment at Post Office 18/04.
Cheque for substantial arrears arrived in post yesterday. Arrears calculated from when they received my application ie last July. Arrears include fuel allowance and living alone allowance.

Household Benefits Package.

Posted form 30/03

16/04 letter back confirming eligibility.

ESB credits are backdated to application date ie last July. Advised the arrears will be paid into bank account the first Tuesday of the month ie 01/05.

Phone Credit is NOT BACKDATED

TV License-a printed letter type license is enclosed with the letter so no need to contact An Post.

Travel Pass was enclosed.

Hope this answers a few questions for any or all.

All the best,

SS

Cavehill Red

Hope that means you're struggling a bit less now, mate.

struggling sam

Cavehill Red wrote: »

Hope that means you're struggling a bit less now, mate.

Thanks for that. The arrears are almost all accounted for in bills but the biggest relief is that the State has recognised my disability which is not that severe, but totally inhibits my ability to work. Maybe a sort of justification in my head?

lukep13

Good for you Sam,

To let everyone know that has applied for DA 99.9% your initial application will be denied. Have heard people being denied, even with serious diseases cancer etc...:eek:

I dont remember my dates. I applied, got denied, appeal, had a oral hearing. Was told to sent in my P45, and another letter from GP saying im unable to work. Three weeks later, got a letter saying i was approved

Got a check couple days later for arrears
Received hefty sum for back ESB bills into bank account 19 months i think
Applied for Travel Pass.

Process was not nice, it took almost 2yrs, definitely a process i would not recommend, if you were sick when you applied, you will see how sick you get dealing with the process

Egiap

Hi lukep 13, do you know what the percentage is of people being refused Invalidity Pension on their first application? I applied in Oct'11 after being on illness benefit since Aug '10. I had my first medical assessment 2 weeks ago and have heard nothing yet. Does anynone know how long it takes for them to let you know if you are eligible or do they wait until the illness benefit runs out after the 2years before they consider your application?Tks

yellowlabrador

My story is very similar to struggling sam, I got my first disability payment in March after a year long struggle. I put in for household benefit and received my back payment this week. When I got the letter giving me the disability allowance, They refused me fuel allowance and living alone allowance. I wrote back to them because I'm living alone and am hard up, I couldn't afford much heating at all, spent a fortune travelling up to hospital several times a month, then I got fiddled paying my electricity bill at a paypoint and am paying it off for a second time, my refuse hasn't been collected because they are charging over 300e and I've about 15 binbags of recycling and no car. So that money is desperately needed.
I haven't heard back in over a month. What do I do now? Wait patiently?Phone? Write again? Peope tell me to visit my td and he'll sort it. I just hate that, more parish pump politics and being eternally gratefull.......

lukep13

Egiap...

I have no idea regarding Invalidity pension. I dont want to discourage you, but i would advise to be patient, i would say their job is to discourage you as much as they can in awarding/being awarded whatever payment you think you may be entitled to. I dont really blame them.. If you have genuine documents supporting your case i do not see how they will refuse.. Sooner or later they will approve it, now it may take hell of a long time, oral hearing, appeals, etc But that is the way it is unfortunately.

In my ordeal being awarded DA costed me alot of nerves, but i found the department professional and helpful.

Yellow,

I would call them. When i applied for Household Benefits i was denied because get this i was not on Disability Allowance (I was), i called, sent them a copy/ letter proving that i was awarded DA, and was sorted out a week later. I can assure you one thing, if you dont make the effort they wont.

As a general tip i would say the more effort you put in the quicker you will be sorted out. Call first, explain the situation calmly and see what they say. I would see TD as a last resort only. Not to be a smart ass, but if you have not heard in a month, it would be common sense to ring them up, because they wont ring you

Egiap

Thanks lukep 13 for your reply. I do have a genuine illness and have plenty of back up from doctors and consultants. However like you I am finding the waiting time to hear back from SW very frustrating. I will battle on as you say and see what happens. Tks

Owryan

Hi , recieved word today that i have been awarded DA. I was totally shocked , although i had applied in Oct 2011, after reading this forum and talking to my gp/counsellor i honestly expected to be refused.

I have a quick question, my letter mentions that i need to apply for Household Ben and am wondering how they assess you for it ?

I never expected to get DA and to have done so with a lot less hassle than i expected has given me a great pick up.

I just hope anyone out there waiting on word gets the same good news as i have .

yellowlabrador

lukep13 wrote: »

Egiap...

I have no idea regarding Invalidity pension. I dont want to discourage you, but i would advise to be patient, i would say their job is to discourage you as much as they can in awarding/being awarded whatever payment you think you may be entitled to. I dont really blame them.. If you have genuine documents supporting your case i do not see how they will refuse.. Sooner or later they will approve it, now it may take hell of a long time, oral hearing, appeals, etc But that is the way it is unfortunately.

In my ordeal being awarded DA costed me alot of nerves, but i found the department professional and helpful.

Yellow,

I would call them. When i applied for Household Benefits i was denied because get this i was not on Disability Allowance (I was), i called, sent them a copy/ letter proving that i was awarded DA, and was sorted out a week later. I can assure you one thing, if you dont make the effort they wont.

As a general tip i would say the more effort you put in the quicker you will be sorted out. Call first, explain the situation calmly and see what they say. I would see TD as a last resort only. Not to be a smart ass, but if you have not heard in a month, it would be common sense to ring them up, because they wont ring you

Just a little update, after numerous phonecalls and lots of patient waiting I finally got through on the phone to them today. I found it quite upsetting, I'm not very well for the moment and am suffering from bad reactions to some medication which has knocked me for six. There was lots of noise in the background, lots of chatter and laughter, so it was hard to hear the person on the phone, I was told I had to reapply for living alone allowance and fuel allowance. I was quite gutted. I'm thinking of trying to move house now. Last winter was miserable enough, having to chose between food or heat, luckily it was mild, I still have a fire most days though.
Everything is always such a battle, I'm now writing a registered letter and I'll follow up with a visit to my td. I'm lucky in a way as he's from my street, but I hate doing it.