Disability Allowance Appeal--- Joke

danger mouse

I just want to high light the scam that is the Disability Allowance Application.

Ok a family member of mine completed her Application 1 year and 2 months ago for Disability allowance. She heard nothing from the department in Longford that deals with applications for nearly 6 months.....See below for corresponds.

Nearly 6 months after the first application, this person received a letter from Longford informing her that her Application had been refused on the grounds that not enough medical evidence had been supplied, Despite the fact that a large amount of medical evidence had been included. A foot note was included that would give the claimant 28 days to appeal the first decision.

Anyway three days later she gathered her composure , Even though she had felt defeated and run down she sent in more "medical evidence" from 3 specialist that had earlier in her claim made recommendations that this women could not work for at lest 1 year and met all the criteria for this allowance. So a new application was sent in to the Longford office for a re-examination of the case.

Within 3 months of this appeal a decision against this person was made by Longford. This decision was made with out as much as a medical examination or meeting with the claimant. The letter explained that the last option was to appeal to the Chief Appeals Officer based in Dublin.

So with the little courage and fighting spirit she had left, the claimant sent in a large amount of supporting evidence to support her Application to the appeals office (mostly repeating the evidence that her doctors had already provided) IE no more information was provided only what had been originally been sent was re-sent. So 3 days ago a decision was made...favourably ;-)


Good news came yesterday in the form of a written decree from the Chief Appeals Officer over riding the previous Rejections of Disability Allowance Section in Longford in turn forcing them to accept this ladies need for an allowance.




So is this whole system a scam to delay peoples payments for a considerable amount of time to save money or are they really taking peoples claims and investigating them properly?

Jhcx

From my own experience and everyone i have talked to. They always turn you down the first time just to make sure you're not the scammer. if you are you wont bother appealing but if your true to the cause you will appeal it and they kinda take you serious. I have heard people being turned down a second time but obviously there must be a reason they didnt fit the criteria.

but it does take a long wait about a year but you do get a large sum which could be very helpful.

Gatling

My claim took 12+ months that's with me needing double hip replacement's and other joint surgery's ,all you can do is keep pushing if its a genuine case

danger mouse

Jhcx wrote: »

From my own experience and everyone i have talked to. They always turn you down the first time just to make sure you're not the scammer. if you are you wont bother appealing but if your true to the cause you will appeal it and they kinda take you serious. I have heard people being turned down a second time but obviously there must be a reason they didnt fit the criteria.

but it does take a long wait about a year but you do get a large sum which could be very helpful.

So 3rd time lucky, with lots of heart ache and dealing with the "local begging bowl ie the cwo" is this how we are supposed to deal with the most vulnerable members of the community.

danger mouse

Gatling wrote: »

My claim took 12+ months that's with me needing double hip replacement's and other joint surgery's ,all you can do is keep pushing if its a genuine case

God help you that is a disgrace. Why should u suffer for no reason.

JustAThought

danger mouse wrote: »

God help you that is a disgrace. Why should u suffer for no reason.

I hope you got it back-paid.

You should put in a formal complaint about this. Having this happen to vulnerable sick people is just shocking.

JustAThought

danger mouse wrote: »

God help you that is a disgrace. Why should u suffer for no reason.

I hope you got it back-paid.

You should put in a formal complaint about this. Having this happen to vulnerable sick people when there is amole medical documentation available is just shocking.

cee_jay

This is not a forum to criticise Govt. Depts.