Disability Allowance

americabound

Hi, I would just like to know how does the Disability Allowance application work, once you apply what payments do you get while you are waiting for you application to be approved.

mp22

Usually whatever payment you are on now.If you are not in receipt of a payment you can apply for http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/supplementary_welfare_allow.html while waiting

americabound

I am actually moving back from america to ireland this year with my family, I am suffering with constant slipped disc pain, the disc has been out and wont stay in. I also have other spinal issues that are causing me extreme pain during the day. I am not able to get disability in America and it is becoming very hard for me to do everyday activities. That is why I wanted to know how it works, when we move back and I apply for disability what payment do I get while waiting to be approved for the disability.

Bongalongherb

It is extremely hard to get disability allowance now in Ireland.

The way the department of social protection (and their medical examiners) work now, is this... if you have a very bad back and are wheel-chair-bound, the department of social protection will announce you as fit for work... Example: if the DSP sees you fit to work a computer for a retail job or business, then said person would be fit for work, and as such would not get disability allowance.

The DSP are not just activating the fit and able-bodied-people to get back into employment, the DSP are strongly putting the pressure onto people with disabilities to gain employment.

This is the way the Department Of Social Protection works now. They have taken a stronger stance in all circumstances regardless of working body-parts.

Just be aware to check-up on all DSP related allowances/entitlements for yourself, and know your rights regarding citizen information with the Citizens Advice Bureau. Pop in and they will explain anything you need to know.

Gatling

Were you not already in receipt of disability and rent supplement

americabound

No I was not, before I left ireland I was on the dole for a short time, I just need to know the process of applying for it.

Chucken

americabound wrote: »

No I was not, before I left ireland I was on the dole for a short time, I just need to know the process of applying for it.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=93631286&postcount=1

americabound

That is what we were thinking of doing first but it will not work out, so we are going to just move back so I can claim disability in Ireland. I will also be continuing my education in Ireland when I get back, I was told that I can transfer a certain amount of my credits to a college in Limerick. I just really want some information on the application process and how it works, I have a lot of medical records that I can bring back with me including CT scan and x-ray images to show the damage that is in my back.

Kristopherus

How long were you in America?

americabound

Since November 2011

Kristopherus

americabound wrote: »

Since November 2011

In that case make sure you clarify that you are not precluded from applying for D.A by the residency obligations. Either contact DSP in Longford or Citizens Information for full info on that.

hdowney

I would think you probably don't satisfy the habitual residency condition as you haven't been residing full time in Ireland 3 out of the last 5 years.

haveringchick

Proving habitual residence is your biggest challenge.

americabound

hdowney wrote: »

I would think you probably don't satisfy the habitual residency condition as you haven't been residing full time in Ireland 3 out of the last 5 years.

So even though I have been living in ireland all of my life up until 2011 I will not be able to get any disability allowance. Is there anything I can do about this.

haveringchick

its not as straightforward as that. you have to prove to SW that Ireland is now your main centre of interest. Go to citizens information website and type habitual residence condition into the search bar.Read the document carefully to get a picture of the situation.
If you succesfully prove HRC then you have to prove that you are physically incapable of any kind of paid employment. Its very difficult to get a long term disability payment in Ireland. Dont make the mistake of thinking that because you have a diagnosis that that will suffice. You have to show that you are definitely incapable of any type of work for at least 1 year.
Even if you overcome that hurdle you then will be means tested.

americabound

haveringchick wrote: »

its not as straightforward as that. you have to prove to SW that Ireland is now your main centre of interest. Go to citizens information website and type habitual residence condition into the search bar.Read the document carefully to get a picture of the situation.
If you succesfully prove HRC then you have to prove that you are physically incapable of any kind of paid employment. Its very difficult to get a long term disability payment in Ireland. Dont make the mistake of thinking that because you have a diagnosis that that will suffice. You have to show that you are definitely incapable of any type of work for at least 1 year.
Even if you overcome that hurdle you then will be means tested.

It will be my main centre of interest, I am going back to the town where I lived all my life, my parents are still living there, I still have a bank account open over there and we are selling our house over here and closing down all our accounts over here too. In regards to not being able to work I have been told by 2 specialists not to lift my 15lb daughter because of the damage, every day I am in pain no matter what activity I am doing.

Gatling

You will be looking at anything from 12 -18 months to get a decision ,
At that it's likely going to be refused ,
It's the hardest benefit to get in this country ,
Guys have gone through triple and quadruple heart bypasses and get refused .
It took me over a year to get my DA

americabound

Gatling wrote: »

You will be looking at anything from 12 -18 months to get a decision ,
At that it's likely going to be refused ,
It's the hardest benefit to get in this country ,
Guys have gone through triple and quadruple heart bypasses and get refused .
It took me over a year to get my DA

Thank you, but what payment do I get while waiting for my possible disability approval, 4

haveringchick

SWA from the CWO.
Once again Habitual Residence Condition will apply.
Means test will apply (means test in this case is more restricted, €5000 is the only disregard on savings, for example).
In short, your DA application is likely to be a long drawn out affair including a refusal and an appeal.
Regarding SWA, you may be lucky . You may find that your CWO decides very quickly that you meet the HRC, or you may find that even after you have supplied endless evidence including your rental agreement/lease here in Ireland, evidence that you've opened a bank account here, enrolled kids in school or college here etc. that you still haven't satisfied the Condition.
There is no such thing as being automatically entitled to anything at all. All benefits and allowances have conditions attached.

americabound

So is the SWA basically like the dole payment, and do I have to go in and sign on every time to keep my SWA.

haveringchick

No there's no signing on. The CWO will be regularly checking on the status of your DA application and if it's not progressing because of a failure on your part to cooperate, or if your DA applicationis unsuccessful then SWA will be withdrawn, sometimes with very little notice.

americabound

So when I get back to Ireland I should go directly to my CWO and fill out the SWA form or go to my doctor and get the Disability Allowance form filled up and sent off before I see the CWO. I am also curious to know if I would get rent allowance on the SWA.

Thank you so much for all your help with this.

hdowney

I would get the DA form first, as you need to be able to say to the CWO that you have applied for DA to get SWA whilst waiting. As to rent allowance you need to be assessed by your Local Co. Co. as having a housing need OR be renting privately for 6mths previous and have been able to afford the rent for the 6mths. Again the habitual residency plays a part in rent allowance

haveringchick

You can't apply for the SWA until you've applied for DA. To get rent supplement you need to be either renting 6 months snd must have been able to afford the rent when you moved in or be on the local authority housing. List.

munchkins83

at least a year and proving your condition is a huge part of DA approval. I had mine refused and had to appeal even though, i had passed the HRC and had serious depression. I couldnt get out of bed for 6 months at least, it was like a cloud over me. The inspector was sound enough though and didnt press me too hard for the means side of things. my employment history proves that i struggled to hold down a job.

haveringchick

Having a diagnosis of anything doesn't mean you will get DA or I P
You have to explain/ describe to SW how having this condition prevents you from getting and holding down a job
The mistake most applicants make is presuming that the doctors report is self explanatory
Mostly it's not
If the GP says that you are in a semi coma following a massive stroke or quadriplegic after a car crash or that you have mnd or ms and it's very aggressive then that's self explanatory
Almost every thing else needs a letter from the applicant describing a typical day and giving the reasons why he or she can't go to work

Monife

I'd love to know how so many drug addicts have DA.

OP, as previously said, it is a very hard payment to get approved for. I have rheumatoid arthritis and while I am lucky that I am still able to work, a lot of my RA friends cannot and have gone through the wars trying DA. The majority of them are refused on first application and have to appeal, a lot of cases are won on appeal but it will be a lengthy wait.

You will have to submit as much supporting documentation as possible from consultants, GP etc and even letters from friends and family, try and pull on their heart strings and show them how much your disability affects your life.

Best of luck.

haveringchick

Monife wrote: »

I'd love to know how so many drug addicts have DA.

OP, as previously said, it is a very hard payment to get approved for. I have rheumatoid arthritis and while I am lucky that I am still able to work, a lot of my RA friends cannot and have gone through the wars trying DA. The majority of them are refused on first application and have to appeal, a lot of cases are won on appeal but it will be a lengthy wait.

You will have to submit as much supporting documentation as possible from consultants, GP etc and even letters from friends and family, try and pull on their heart strings and show them how much your disability affects your life.

Best of luck.

People addicted to alcohol or drugs who are not sober or clean are not available for work you couldn't expect anyone to employ them. that's why they get DA A lot of people with RA can and do actually hold down jibs Some people RA is far worse then others The mistake people make is presuming that the department knows how bad the RA is, without telling them how they are badly prevented from going to work by the condition

Monife

haveringchick wrote: »

People addicted to alcohol or drugs who are not sober or clean are not available for work you couldn't expect anyone to employ them. that's why they get DA A lot of people with RA can and do actually hold down jibs Some people RA is far worse then others The mistake people make is presuming that the department knows how bad the RA is, without telling them how they are badly prevented from going to work by the condition

I know of many people who have put huge amounts of supporting documentation from various consultants, doctors, themselves etc proving they are not fit for work, permanently, and are still refused and have to appeal.

It's disgusting these people have to fight so hard for DA when addicts (through choice - you choose to use drugs or abuse alcohol) get it so easily.

haveringchick

Monife wrote: »

I know of many people who have put huge amounts of supporting documentation from various consultants, doctors, themselves etc proving they are not fit for work, permanently, and are still refused and have to appeal.

It's disgusting these people have to fight so hard for DA when addicts (through choice - you choose to use drugs or abuse alcohol) get it so easily.

You can have a letter from Pope Francis stating that you have any ailment under the sun, but you wont get DA unless you tell them in your own words how having that ailment or disability prevents you form going to work.
You don't get DA because you have rhuemetoid arthritis
You get it because you cant work.
Whether or not addiction is actually a choice or not is a debate for another forum I think

Oxter

I applied, and was refused.
Lodged the appeal 4 months ago, it was disallowed.

I was not seen by their Doctor, and the refusal letter was signed by a person with no medical qualifications. No doctor would ever assess a person without at least setting eyes on him physically.

The appeal refusal letter gives no further means to appeal, and says to lodge a new claim if my condition changes. My condition has changed, disimporved.

Then what? another 7 month wait, and 4 months for the appeal ? And still no medical examination by DSP?

It seems rhe only way to get DA is to to become a heroin addict. Easy to do. Take 2 Solpadeine tablets and then any urine sample would test positive for opiates for 72 hours.

mp22

Lodge a new claim if your GP says your condition is getting worse,the Dept go on the info supplied by your GP.

shugy

hdowney wrote: »

I would think you probably don't satisfy the habitual residency condition as you haven't been residing full time in Ireland 3 out of the last 5 years.

So if an irish man has been in Australia working for 3 years, comes home to work, can't find work then he's not entitled to dole or DA because he doesn't satisfy the habitual residency. What is he to do then?

hdowney

shugy wrote:

So if an irish man has been in Australia working for 3 years, comes home to work, can't find work then he's not entitled to dole or DA because he doesn't satisfy the habitual residency. What is he to do then?

Honestly. I don't know. It's a crap system when you have to leave the country because no work here and then if you come back you can't get any help

haveringchick

hdowney wrote: »

Honestly. I don't know. It's a crap system when you have to leave the country because no work here and then if you come back you can't get any help

The HRC was introduced when freedom of movement throughout Europe became a reality in 2004 in order to prevent visitors from arriving in Ireland from abroad and claiming allowances
Welfare tourism
To suggest that this would apply to everybody but Irish citizens would be racist

hdowney

haveringchick wrote:

The HRC was introduced when freedom of movement throughout Europe became a reality in 2004 in order to prevent visitors from arriving in Ireland from abroad and claiming allowances Welfare tourism To suggest that this would apply to everybody but Irish citizens would be racist

Ah no I get that. I guess I wish mostly that the country hadn't gone in the crapper and so on from there.

mp22

Closed


Merry Christmas.