Exemption for voluntary work on Invalidity Pension

periwinkle

Hi there,

I am on Invalidity Pension and recently completed a course of study that was approved by the Department. I now have a qualification. As part of the course, I undertook two days a week unpaid work experience. It is very therapeutic for me and I had hoped to continue with that despite the course being over. I rang Longford and they said I would need the business owner to write a letter to the exemptions section. They didn't give me any indication that there would be a problem. So the business owner wrote to them explaining that I would be working on a voluntary, unpaid basis doing minimal hours and only so long as I was fit to continue doing so.

Exemptions replied to me today to say that I cannot do unpaid work there because it isn't a voluntary organisation.

I'm really gutted and will really miss the social contact and the structure it's given to my week. I can feel the four walls closing in again. Is there any point in trying to appeal the decision, perhaps with a supporting letter with my GP? Or is it set in stone, as I fear?

mp22

If it is a business you will be working with it would be unlikely that the dept will change their minds,however there is no harm in appealing.

periwinkle

Thank you mp22,

Would I appeal to the exemptions section of Invalidity Pension in Longford, or the Social Welfare Appeals Office?

mp22

Did the letter you got set out what to do to appeal the decision? if not go with the appeal to longford. Be prepared for a long wait.

Gatling

You'd almost be better off finding an approved voluntary organisation to help out with

LegacyUser

Thanks mp22,

No, the letter didn't mention an appeals process.

Thanks again for your advice.