Waiting and waiting for decision on Invalidity pension

TheminxIRL

Hi folks as the heading suggests I have been waiting since end of May for a decision on an appeal for Invalidity Pension, not long term but I met their criteria where I have been unable to work for a year prior to applying and my consultant has me down as being unfit for another year so cannot apply for jobseekers.

I am currently in receipt of a very low payment from supplementary welfare until I get a decision.

This payment is just barely enough to keep a roof over our heads (myself and minor child), but due to Christmas and possibly being the last Santa one I will have I wanted it to be special for my child.

I applied for Christmas work with a clothes retailer, really not expecting to get it but I did.

It is for up to 10 hours a week, which I will declare to the supplementary welfare group, I want to keep it above board and I know I will have all earnings deducted from my weekly payment but I would rather keep busy.

My question is how and if this will affect my appeal with the Invalidity Pension group, it seems contradictory to be applying for welfare for not being able to work and then having to notify them for working.

The main reason I ask is I was unaware I could get supplementary benefit until Sept and I hadnt had a social welfare payment from May until then on account of having some savings and not expecting the appeal to take so long. Therefore I am concerned the arrears I have accrued might be lost.

Is it worth my while at all, has anyone been in this position?

Reme59

Hi I thought I would reply as I have been through the process of appealing invalidity pension. I was on illness benefit which came to an end in may 2015 and i aplied for invalidity. Pension, which was turned down.(I was told by reliable source they turn down majority of applications initially) I immediately appealed and was called for "interiew" early November. This was quite a stressful experience but I had all my doctors reports etc. The interviewer more or less said I would get pension and in early december I received a letter saying my appeal was successful. To date I have not re eived any payment or correspondence from dept of SW. You seem to be waiting a long time to hear from time you submitted your application. I think you should ring and see where your application is as I was waiting 5 months from applying to getting a call for interview. It seems a long process and not made easy . Good luck

TheminxIRL

Hi Reme, I contacted the department by email after your posted, the response I got was pretty much automated but said that the department had to request further information but has now been passed to an appeals officer.

When you say you heard nothing since you had your interview in the form of payment or correspondence, do you mean your weekly payments and back dated payment have not been paid yet?

Would that be normal to be waiting for it to commence?

By the way thanks for the repsonse

Reme59

Hi
Just getting back to you re nvalidity. Sorry if wasn't clear but the civil servant who interviewed me in november hinted that I would get it on what I presented to them and two weeks later I got his report saying appeal was allowed and being sent to soc welfare. That was in early december. I have heard nothing since and decided to ring soc welfare invalidity section this week but to no avail. Was told a back log over Christmas. I will ring them in Feb if I don't receive anything from them but this process has been going on since last May/June. I have not received any payment since my illness benefit ended lady may. I think ringing them might be more informative than email in
Regards
Reme

[Hi quote="TheminxIRL;98317958"]Hi Reme, I contacted the department by email after your posted, the response I got was pretty much automated but said that the department had to request further information but has now been passed to an appeals officer.

When you say you heard nothing since you had your interview in the form of payment or correspondence, do you mean your weekly payments and back dated payment have not been paid yet?

Would that be normal to be waiting for it to commence?

By the way thanks for the repsonse[/quote]

TheminxIRL

Thanks again for responding, the waiting time is totally unjustified when its affecting someones quality of life.

Its unfair to hear back and still end up waiting.

I really hope I find out one way or another,even though I am going against medical advice I will have to find work, I cannot survive on supplementary welfare for much longer.

I hope yours comes through asap.

Reme59

TheminxIRL wrote: »

Thanks again for responding, the waiting time is totally unjustified when its affecting someones quality of life.

Its unfair to hear back and still end up waiting.

I really hope I find out one way or another,even though I am going against medical advice I will have to find work, I cannot survive on supplementary welfare for much longer.

I hope yours comes through asap.

Hi just to say I received confirmation my invalidity pension will be paid in march and back dated. This has been a long drawn out procedure which you can see from my earlier posts but my advice is to hang in and hopefully you too will be successful

Lishb

I applied in September 17 and got refused and lodged an appeal on October 5th and I am still waiting! Does anyone know what the waiting times are now. My illness benefit stopped January 1st so no money at all coming in

splinter65

Lishb wrote: »

I applied in September 17 and got refused and lodged an appeal on October 5th and I am still waiting! Does anyone know what the waiting times are now. My illness benefit stopped January 1st so no money at all coming in

1890747434 is the Appeals office they are very helpful if you ring.
Did you send much new evidence with your Appeal?
If you haven’t already sent a letter setting out why you feel you are not fit for work then it’s not too late to do that now.

Jurgen Klopp

Lishb wrote: »

I applied in September 17 and got refused and lodged an appeal on October 5th and I am still waiting! Does anyone know what the waiting times are now. My illness benefit stopped January 1st so no money at all coming in

Any good local TDs? They usually set the fire under the departments in my experience, I've seen it many a time

LegacyUser

Do you know what kind if questions are asked at UP oral hearing ?

Jurgen Klopp wrote: »

Any good local TDs? They usually set the fire under the departments in my experience, I've seen it many a time

LegacyUser

I'm jumping in here too, looking for any advise! I applied end Oct 17, my illness benefit ended Dec 17 and I also was declined for Invalidity Pension in Dec, which I appealed, I have been diagnosed with CFS but on my refusal letter it didn't mention that just other illnesses. I appealed in Dec 17, last Monday my husband was told his FIS can't be renewed until my appeal sorted. I've made appeal dept aware of this but the lady I was speaking to said my appeal was in the "very early stages of the process" even though its with them 2 months. I'm at my wits end over it all.