social welfare inspector claims i dont live at my home

christopher 2018

Hi, could someone help. I live alone and mostly reclusive. i keep my curtains closed almost all year round and dont venture out much due to past life upsets so prefer to left alone. The welfare inspector claimed she'd been to my home 8 times and upon looking at my property decided i wasn't living there and cut my jobseekers payment. ive been without money for 3 months now and family are helping me out. i have appealed and am due to see someone next week for an appeal interview. I would like to know if anyone has this same experience or can offer some sound advice to convince i do live here,thanks alot, Chris

Dial Hard

Genuine question, but if you're mostly reclusive are you actually actively looking for and willing to accept full-time work? Because if you're not, then you shouldn't be on Jobseekers.

If you genuinely feel that you can't work for whatever reason then you need to apply for disability allowance.

Did the inspector ever actually ring the doorbell?

Airyfairy12

I had a slightly similar situation a few years ago. Id been long term unemployed and had my money cut, I just so happened to be in contact with someone in charge of my local social welfare as I was about to take part in a back to work scheme (I didnt know he was in charge, he was just the guy I was given an appointment with). In between appointments my payments stopped and I told him what happened, he was shocked and explained to me the correct procedures social welfare employees are supposed to follow (This was when I discovered who he was), The woman who cut my money ended up being removed from the centre. Theyre not allowed stop your payments like that. They have to send you a letter requesting proof youre living at that address - so like a letter from your bank addressed to you or a letter from your landlord and youre given a certain amount of time before your money is stopped. They have to warn you about it. You need to ring your local social welfare and make a complaint.

If youre on social welfare youre entitled to a medical card and free counselling. Id really recommend you avail of those services. Youre living like a hermit, you deserve a good quality of life like anyone else.

splinter65

christopher 2018 wrote: »

Hi, could someone help. I live alone and mostly reclusive. i keep my curtains closed almost all year round and dont venture out much due to past life upsets so prefer to left alone. The welfare inspector claimed she'd been to my home 8 times and upon looking at my property decided i wasn't living there and cut my jobseekers payment. ive been without money for 3 months now and family are helping me out. i have appealed and am due to see someone next week for an appeal interview. I would like to know if anyone has this same experience or can offer some sound advice to convince i do live here,thanks alot, Chris

Hi. I’m sorry this has happened but it’s actually not the worst thing at all. You have been on the wrong payment. You need to be on DA.
If someone you know and trust can get you a Disabilty Allowance application form from SW or CIC ( or you can download it) fill it in (your GP will have to fill in some of it) write a letter from yourself basically saying what you have said here and stating that because of this you are unfit for work, and send it away.
In the meantime you will have to contact the CWO at your SW office for a payment while your DA is being processed.
You’re not entitled to Jobseekers but you will probably qualify for DA.
Have you thought about talking to your GP about getting help?

Airyfairy12

To those suggesting he should be on DA its not that easy to get, especially for mental health issues. Unless youre disabled, physically or intellectually its difficult to get and applying could effect him receiving any payments at all.

unreg999

It also takes 3-4 months to get a decision which is disgusting you can then repeal it but that could take another 3-4 months too!
In the meantime you can apply for supplementary allowance and if the DA doesn't go through there is a discretionary payment you might be able to get through your local CWO...
But you really need to get to your CWO ASAP and explain ASAP! Good luck

christopher 2018

Thank you so much for the replies and advice. It's good to know there is actually real genuine help out there. I went to the 2 meetings with the CWO who also happens to be the inspector for the area and she said she would give me nothing. When i asked her what the initial meetings were about she lied and said she didn't know, it wasn't until i received the letter that they cut my payment that i was notified that the inspector (cwo) had been to my property 8 times (also lies) and deemed my home uninhabited. Thanks, Chris.

Caranica

Are you actually seeking work?

You shouldn't have been cut off without notice but surely they should have sought proof that you were seeking work or referred you to Turas Nua or the like?

christopher 2018

Hi, I was referred to and completed the people 1st program and was seeking employment but this happened soon after. I have been advised today that someone rang in and reported me from citizens advice.. Which makes sense as the inspector knew a few personal things about me which they couldn't have known. I have a very bitter ex wife who left in 2010 because she had got a new career and said she didnt need me anymore then got very bitter when i wouldn't accept her back a year later. Since then my windows have been smashed and vehicle damage etc on different occasions hence why my home would look uninhabited i suppose... Thanks, Chris.

Emme

OP would it help you to actually seek work? Like do a course, get a CV together and look for jobs?

christopher 2018

Yea im constantly looking for opportunities but with someone living close by hell bent on ruining all i do anonymously its kinda hard. Ive been told on numerous occasions they ask about for info on me.. so any employer i would get would be contacted (anonymously) by them and told lies about me. Its already happened a few times in the past. but just cant prove something like that easily.  Chris

Jeff2

A few years ago someone was to call out to me and on the day not only was my door unlocked but was open.
He phoned straight to my voicemail to say he called and there was no one home.
He left a number to rearrange for a later date
.

Paddy Cow

Disability is incredibly hard to get but illness is much easier. I was unemployed when my mother died of cancer and I was crippled with anxiety. I was having panic attacks and crying at the drop of a hat. I was in no position to be looking for work so I went to my GP and asked to go on illness (I was already on anti-depressants at the time). I was never called for interview or anything. The GP put down anxiety on the form and stamped it and that was that. It took a few weeks for it to go through but they were giving me supplementary income (or something) in the interim.

The disadvantage of illness is that you have to go to the GP once a week to get a form which you drop into the social. You cannot get any other benefits such as fuel allowance or Christmas bonus. I found it actually helped me because it forced me to keep to a routine and I had to interact with people. After a few months my mental health improved and now I'm off it.

Op you have mental health issues that need addressing. It's not normal or healthy to live like a recluse and you'll find it very hard to get your payment reinstated if you are not looking for work. Go and speak to your GP and see what they think. You cannot continue to live like this. Your family cannot support you forever and you will live a very lonely life if allow your ex to limit your existence.

There are people out there who will help you but they can't unless you contact them.

Jeff2

Paddy Cow wrote: »

Op you have mental health issues that need addressing. .

That is one hell of a statement to say about the op.

Purple Mountain

Paddy I don't think Christopher would quality for Illness as by sounds of it he doesn't have stamps.
I'd also find it very hard to credit that someone from Citz. Info blabbed on OP. They are independent of Dept of Social Protection, most of them there are volunteers so maybe it was the ex who stirred the pot?

Paddy Cow

Jeff2 wrote: »

That is one hell of a statement to say about the op.

Do you think someone with good mental health stays indoors with the curtains closed? The op asked for help. Have you any advice?

Paddy Cow

Purple Mountain wrote: »

Paddy I don't think Christopher would quality for Illness as by sounds of it he doesn't have stamps.
I'd also find it very hard to credit that someone from Citz. Info blabbed on OP. They are independent of Dept of Social Protection, most of them there are volunteers so maybe it was the ex who stirred the pot?

I didn't have stamps either. I was on jobseeker's and they switched me to illness.

nikkibikki

Paddy Cow wrote:

I didn't have stamps either. I was on jobseeker's and they switched me to illness.

You wouldn't have gotten Illness Benefit unless you had stamps/PRSI contributions or credits. Could easily have been another payment.

OP it would be worth your while applying for Disability Allowance and Supplementary Welfare Allowance when you are waiting. If refused either, you can appeal and this goes over the CWO's head. Dispute their claims that they have visited you, they are obviously lying.

Big Bag of Chips

mea_k,
I've deleted your post and ask you to read some of the moderator stickies at the top of the Forum.

Offering or asking for PM contact in Personal Issues forum is against the rules of this forum. I hope you understand why.

If any poster receives a PM through Personal Issues offering help/support offline we urge people to report the message.

christopher 2018

dont understand.. i didnt pm anyone...?  what are stickies?

Jeff2

christopher 2018 wrote: »

dont understand.. i didnt pm anyone...?  what are stickies?

Stickies are at the top of the forum page to for quick answers and links.

https://touch.boards.ie/forum/127


Someone may have sent you a personal message.

I was like you in the last place I lived and I'd say you've got good advice to go on in the thread.

Just talking to people like citizen information well help. I'm not sure but I think they may have contacted the DSP on my behalf.
I think I had to sign a document to say they could do that.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/

Jeff2

Also you might want to post here.

https://touch.boards.ie/forum/861

Big Bag of Chips

Mod Note
christopher 2018, I deleted a post from another user. I've sent you a PM explaining.

christopher 2018

Thank you all for the help and advice, its been really helpful. I dont consider myself to have a mental illness and i wouldn't feel right applying for illness or disability benefit under those circumstances. I also dont have enough credits for disability. Ive remained this way because of the unfortunate or cruel experiences i've had and just wished to be left alone. Mariltal breakdown, infidelity and parental alienation can take its toll, therefore as a result I didnt have much time for people and also didnt want to inflict my sadness or mood onto others. I have an amazing family who do help out and im currently getting help to move on. This has just been another experience of how some people behave. To clarify and earlier post it was the citizens advice told me that someone must've rang in on me. 
Thanks so much, Chris.

HairMare

best way to prove occupancy is esb / gas usage and bills as well as refuge collections with weights.

the unfortunate part of the system here is you need to prove your living there rather than they prove your not.

maybe contact your local mabs also, as you should be getting an exceptional needs payment from cwo while you appeal your claim.

best of luck with it all.

Graces7

Paddy Cow wrote: »

Do you think someone with good mental health stays indoors with the curtains closed? The op asked for help. Have you any advice?

I often do for many reasons and I have no mental health issues.

splinter65

Graces7 wrote: »

I often do for many reasons and I have no mental health issues.

You do but eventually you pull back the curtains and get dressed and go outside.

Purple Mountain

christopher 2018 wrote: »

To clarify and earlier post it was the citizens advice told me that someone must've rang in on me. 
Thanks so much, Chris.

Sorry. I picked it up that you thought someone working in Citizens Information reported you for something. My apologies.

Jeff2

splinter65 wrote: »

You do but eventually you pull back the curtains and get dressed and go outside.

No need to pull the curtains open to go out and no reason not to be dressed at home with curtains closed.