How To Recover Underpayment of Tusla Aftercare Allowance?

Danleo171

Hello,

I am looking for advice from anyone who may be able to help.

I am in receipt of an aftercare allowance from Tusla to a total of 250 a week, I was recently told by my aftercare worker that an increase to 300 a week is now the standard and that I would receive the increased payments plus a backdate to mid January, I was then told March would be as far as the payment could be backdated as the application was not made until then.

I had the aftercare worker tell me various reasons why it wouldn't be backdated further, all of which blamed me even though I had no knowledge or power in relation to the application being made.

I found the guidance document which was released by Tusla stating the standardised amount of 300 a week and this was released in September 2017. http://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/...tercare_v3.pdf

It looks to me that the application should have been made in at least September and the only reason it wasn't is the inaction of my aftercare worker, this is not the only issue I've had with this individual.

What would be the best course of action to take to try and recover the extra payments going back to when I would have become entitled to them?

Squatter

Danleo171 wrote: »

I found the guidance document which was released by Tusla stating the standardised amount of 300 a week and this was released in September 2017. http://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/...tercare_v3.pdf

Link not working. When I can read it I'll come back to you.

EDIT: I found this link:- https://www.epiconline.ie/care-information/aftercare/ which appears to relate. But note that the "MORE INFO" box leads back to the tusla website and isn't working!

Maybe ask the EPIC people for advice/assistance?

Danleo171

Hey, they do appear to have removed this document and a few others from their site, I have it downloaded so I uploaded to Dropbox, it should link here https://www.dropbox.com/s/s0y6mxmktqrszcg/4254-TUSLA_Finance_Aftercare_v3.pdf?dl=0

As for EPIC, I have dealt with them before for a different matter and there wasn't much they could do for me, I emailed them regarding this but it appears that their email address is inactive

Squatter

Danleo171 wrote: »

Hey, they do appear to have removed this document and a few others from their site, I have it downloaded so I uploaded to Dropbox, it should link here https://www.dropbox.com/s/s0y6mxmktqrszcg/4254-TUSLA_Finance_Aftercare_v3.pdf?dl=0

As for EPIC, I have dealt with them before for a different matter and there wasn't much they could do for me, I emailed them regarding this but it appears that their email address is inactive

I've read it now thanks.

Looking at paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2, it seems that your aftercare worker has certainly not done what needed to be done.

There is reference to Appeals later in the document (although it's a bit wishy washy) so maybe you could start by invoking that process.

Another option might be for you to contact the Ombudsman for Children: https://www.oco.ie/complaints/ I assume you're over 18 now, but you weren't when you were being messed around. Even a threat to contact them might get Tusla to treat you fairly.

Good luck.

Loveinapril

Write a letter to the principal social worker detailing what you have written here. Once it is in writing, they have to write back so it will be investigated.

Danleo171

Hey, thanks for the replies I will try the appeals process and see if it can be resolved that way