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Illness benefit problems since new form

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Comments

  • #452
    splinter65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,420 ✭✭✭splinter65


    BohsCeltic wrote: »
    Can everyone email joe@rte.ie

    I have already been in contact but I think if more people outline this mess the more chance I have to get live on air.

    I’ve just emailed them there. I hope you get on. Don’t say anything you can’t back up with facts though.


  • #453
    BohsCeltic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,588 ✭✭✭BohsCeltic


    splinter65 wrote: »
    I’ve just emailed them there. I hope you get on. Don’t say anything you can’t back up with facts though.

    Oh I have the facts. I have letter from Regina Doherty and also from IB.
    Not much use and just the general automatic response.


  • #454
    nicrob08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 62 ✭✭nicrob08


    I wonder if any of us voted today? I didnt thats for sure.


  • #455
    splinter65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,420 ✭✭✭splinter65


    nicrob08 wrote: »
    I wonder if any of us voted today? I didnt thats for sure.

    Not voting in the presidential election or any election or referendum just helps and allows things to stay exactly the same as they are right now.


  • #456
    BohsCeltic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,588 ✭✭✭BohsCeltic


    nicrob08 wrote: »
    I wonder if any of us voted today? I didnt thats for sure.

    I voted :)


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  • #457
    Bannasidhe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,218 ✭✭✭✭Bannasidhe


    BohsCeltic wrote: »
    I voted :)

    I'm slowly trying to get it together to walk to my polling station - or tbh I'm waiting for someone to come and give me a lift. Hopefully, I won't end up clinging on for dear life to the back of my son's motorbike :eek:


  • #458
    nicrob08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 62 ✭✭nicrob08


    BohsCeltic wrote: »
    I voted :)

    I cant bring myself to vote for any of the candidates...that coupled with the fact my car wouldnt make it down as the fuel light has been flashing for a good 3 days


  • #459
    Bukowski69
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5 ✭Bukowski69


    Nothing today either. Have spent all morning just chasing my tail. Too damn tired, worn out and just no energy at this stage to even bother voting. Could just about muster up the enthusiasm to send off the email below to Liveline. **** all good it will probably do, but hey, its good to vent off steam...

    Dear Joe,

    Like so many other people, I too have been severely affected by the ongoing shambles within the Department of Social Protection (DSP) around payments to those relying on Illness Benefit. For the last few weeks I have been either left short by a significant amount or, as was the case last Friday, received nothing at all. When I went into the Community Welfare Officer in Intreo later that morning, I was told that the full amount, including arrears would be paid into my account on Tuesday.

    It was indeed paid in, and so I assumed that all was back on track again.

    How wrong I was. Again today, nothing was paid in from the Illness Benefit section in DSP.

    So off I duly went back to the Community Welfare Officer in Intreo- as advised by John McKeon, the Secretary General at Illness Benefit in the letter I received from his Department, dated 18th October 2018.

    Only to be told that I would have to make an appointment to see the CWO, which I duly did - for next Tuesday morning. In the meantime I have to live on fresh air until then.

    Regina Doherty and all Senior Management that have presided over this mess for over two months now should all be fired with immediate effect.

    I am seriously considering bringing a case against this Department to the Ombudsman.

    Perhaps we need some sort of march or protest to their offices and/or the Dail so as to shame them into doing their bloody jobs right.

    Kind Regards


  • #460
    BohsCeltic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,588 ✭✭✭BohsCeltic


    Bukowski69 wrote: »
    Nothing today either. Have spent all morning just chasing my tail. Too damn tired, worn out and just no energy at this stage to even bother voting. Could just about muster up the enthusiasm to send off the email below to Liveline. **** all good it will probably do, but hey, its good to vent off steam...

    Dear Joe,

    Like so many other people, I too have been severely affected by the ongoing shambles within the Department of Social Protection (DSP) around payments to those relying on Illness Benefit. For the last few weeks I have been either left short by a significant amount or, as was the case last Friday, received nothing at all. When I went into the Community Welfare Officer in Intreo later that morning, I was told that the full amount, including arrears would be paid into my account on Tuesday.

    It was indeed paid in, and so I assumed that all was back on track again.

    How wrong I was. Again today, nothing was paid in from the Illness Benefit section in DSP.

    So off I duly went back to the Community Welfare Officer in Intreo- as advised by John McKeon, the Secretary General at Illness Benefit in the letter I received from his Department, dated 18th October 2018.

    Only to be told that I would have to make an appointment to see the CWO, which I duly did - for next Tuesday morning. In the meantime I have to live on fresh air until then.

    Regina Doherty and all Senior Management that have presided over this mess for over two months now should all be fired with immediate effect.

    I am seriously considering bringing a case against this Department to the Ombudsman.

    Perhaps we need some sort of march or protest to their offices and/or the Dail so as to shame them into doing their bloody jobs right.

    Kind Regards

    I was on again to liveline but she said it would probably be next week as it's a long weekend. It's going to be a very long weekend for most of us.
    So frustrating that we are not getting any real answers from anyone.


  • #461
    BohsCeltic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,588 ✭✭✭BohsCeltic


    BohsCeltic wrote: »
    I was on again to liveline but she said it would probably be next week as it's a long weekend. It's going to be a very long weekend for most of us.
    So frustrating that we are not getting any real answers from anyone.

    Hi

    I spoke to your office yesterday and was told to email about my issues

    Thousands of people have not been paid or being only paid small amounts of illness benifit.
    It's impossible to get through to their phones aswell.
    They sent out a letter to say they are fixing the problem but it has being going on for months.
    Would that piece of paper pay for food and bills ?

    As someone who suffers with anxiety and depression this just adds more stress.
    I still have my job but I don't know when when I will return

    This is affecting people who want to contribute to society but are being treated like animals through no fault of their own.

    If you read the link below you will see how many are affected but obviously that is just people on that site. There are probably thousands more.

    https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057901661/2

    I have already raised this issue with the minister for social protection but just got a letter with the normal reply of this is being looked into.

    I would be happy to talk on air to make more people aware as it has not been in the media much.


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  • #462
    Bannasidhe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,218 ✭✭✭✭Bannasidhe


    Just sent this to Róisín Shortall.


    I am one of many who, despite being informed we have been granted IB (in my case from 24/09/18) have yet to receive a cent from the DSP. I have sent in all the documentation required, I have submitted weekly certs from my GP, I have attempted to contact the relevant dept on several occasions only to be put on hold and have the call dropped after approx. an hour.

    I am not alone in this - as this thread on Boards.ie demonstrates https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057901661 - many are in the same situation where we have either received no payment or payments are erratic.

    Many of us received a form letter dated 19th Oct from Joe McKeon "explaining" the issue, advising us of the steps being taken to resolve the situation (including extra staff to deal with phone inquiries - but the phones remain unanswered) and advising us to go to the Community Welfare Officer for emergency payments. The fact is that many of us are too ill to go to our local INTERO office, or if we can make it there we find that we do not qualify for a means tested payment,or frankly due to not having an income simply cannot afford to put petrol in the car to get there!
    There is also the fact that some people have found themselves in the predicament that when they do receive an interim payment from the CWO this further delays the processioning of their IB claim as it impacts on the amount of arrears due which then needs to be investigated.

    People who have managed to get through to the IB section are being told forms have not been received - despite being posted to the correct address (surely if An Post are "losing" so many letters this requires investigation?). That their arrears will be paid on a certain date but nothing happens. But most, like myself, have not been able to get any response whatsoever whether we ring, email, or use Twitter.

    The silence is absolute.

    I have now been waiting a month for payment of any kind for a benefit based on my PRSI contributions. Today, once my mortgage is paid, I will be forced to ask my elderly parents if they can lend me money for to buy food. And I am better off than many waiting for payment as, at least this month, I can make my mortgage payment which "buys" me a month to hope I finally get some money or am able to return to work. Other people have small children to provide for and rent to pay.

    It is an absolute disgrace that people who have been certified too ill to work and are trying to live on a reduced income which they are entitled to via their PRSI contributions are being reduced to poverty while the DSP blames GPs and refuses to engage/explain with it's "customers" ) as Mr McKeon addressed us in his form letter.

    Can you please, on behalf of all of us investigate what is going on and work to get this matter sorted.?


  • #463
    Bannasidhe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,218 ✭✭✭✭Bannasidhe


    An Taoiseach.

    Just sent this to Leo Varadkar.


    I am writing to you as one of the "people who get up in the morning" who find themselves, due to illness, temporarily unable to "get up" to ask when the absolute disaster regarding the payment of Illness Benefit will be resolved?

    I am not the only one writing to you about the lack of payments - in my case I have been waiting a month since IB was awarded and not received a cent - of this PRSI based benefit, nor am I the only one who is frustrated by the lack of engagement on the part of the Department of Social Protection on this issue.

    People are being plunged into poverty at the exact time the social insurance we paid is supposed to be there for us and the DSP is not engaging with us. We are being told medical certs are lost, it's the GPs fault, the money will be there next week - or at least the people who have managed to make contact with the IB section of the DSP have been told this. I have not been so lucky. All I have managed is to run up my phone bill being kept on hold for an hour at a time before the call is dropped with no means of paying that bill as I have had no income for the last month and no indication when I will finally get a payment.

    Ill people are being told to get up and go to the Community Welfare Officer - often to find they do not qualify for a mean tested payment if they manage to get there.
    People have resorted to contacting the St Vincent de Paul for food vouchers to feed their children. These are working men and women Taoiseach, who paid their stamps!

    It is an absolute disgrace that working people are being treated in such a manner and being either fobbed off by the DSP or are unable to make any contact with them whatsoever.
    Minister Doherty certainly doesn't seem to be taking any steps to expedite payments or resolve the issue.

    An Taoiseach, as head of government, please ensure that this matter is resolved.


  • #464
    SJF84
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10 ✭SJF84


    banie01 wrote: »
    I just received another (3rd and counting) Illness Benefit medical review form!
    The last 2 were returned both hard copy and soft within the last 4 weeks...
    This system really is a joke!

    I Just got one today, are they having a laugh. I have been on this since middle of aug due to an injury. I honestly cannot wait to get back to work. Are you gonna fill it out?


  • #465
    banie01
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,038 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    SJF84 wrote: »
    I Just got one today, are they having a laugh. I have been on this since middle of aug due to an injury. I honestly cannot wait to get back to work. Are you gonna fill it out?

    I scanned the 2nd one so I will just reprint it and forward hard and soft copy again.
    Don't want to give them any excuse to say it was an error on my part.


  • #466
    Always Be Closing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,332 ✭✭✭Always Be Closing


    Lads and ladies

    Don't accept this CWO 'appointment' bollocks

    They HAVE to see to you there and then and give you a cheque. 100%


  • #467
    LegacyUser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,006 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    After weeks of my payments been messed up and fixed and recieved a letter this week, 2 months later to explain, I said ok new system, give them shadow of the doubt.. until I check bank this morning and guess what, no payment!!! Its a joke.. bank holiday weekend, midterm break.. single mam to 2 kids... Happy Halloween 😥🀬


  • #468
    Man with a plan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47 ✭Man with a plan


    I've been on long term illness benefit and I've been following this thread for weeks.
    I've had just one messed up payment about a month ago so I've been lucky enough so far.

    I tried contacting by phone and online many times but like many others I've
    had no answer or replies so just gave up.

    But I now haven't got paid this week at all.The money always gets paid into my bank Friday night/Saturday morning and if its a bank holiday weekend as it is,then it normally goes in earlier on a Thursday night/Friday morning.

    I honestly think there are bigger problems with this than whats been let on.

    I have worked my whole life in IT in many huge multinational companies and the standard protocol in all or any of these companies for any major change to the system like this is comprehensive testing over and over and over of the "New" system before it gets rolled out "Live" to be absolutely 100% sure there will be no problems whatsoever.

    And during all that it must be "signed off" on by several managers along each step of the way to make sure all is in order. ie People held accountable ;)

    Was this new system even tested before being rolled out and if not why not ? and who if anybody signed off on this rollout ?

    Nothing surprises me in this kip of a country anymore !!!


  • #469
    nicrob08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 62 ✭✭nicrob08


    Man with a plan wrote: »
    I've been on long term illness benefit and I've been following this thread for weeks.
    I've had just one messed up payment about a month ago so I've been lucky enough so far.

    I tried contacting by phone and online many times but like many others I've
    had no answer or replies so just gave up.

    But I now haven't got paid this week at all.The money always gets paid into my bank Friday night/Saturday morning and if its a bank holiday weekend as it is,then it normally goes in earlier on a Thursday night/Friday morning.

    I honestly think there are bigger problems with this than whats been let on.

    I have worked my whole life in IT in many huge multinational companies and the standard protocol in all or any of these companies for any major change to the system like this is comprehensive testing over and over and over of the "New" system before it gets rolled out "Live" to be absolutely 100% sure there will be no problems whatsoever.

    And during all that it must be "signed off" on by several managers along each step of the way to make sure all is in order. ie People held accountable ;)

    Was this new system even tested before being rolled out and if not why not ? and who if anybody signed off on this rollout ?

    Nothing surprises me in this kip of a country anymore !!!

    Its been tested now on us guinea pigs and obviously failing 😂 I really dont even know how to feel anymore. Anger, frustration and today Im at a point I have to laugh at the situation. One of my local TDs office managed to get in contact with someone at the section yesterday, all I wanted to ask her was how did she manage to get onto someone! But this week it seems for me they are claiming non receipt of my cert covering from the 25th for the coming week. Got no excuse for the week before's cock up. Im.handing my certs directly into the main social welfare office in Cork. How can they say this many certs are going missing either through the fault of an Post or the "customers" inability to hand them into their local social welfare office.
    Everyones anger and frustration is that they are not taking accountability, they are fobbing off with different excuses. Promises of payments that dont materialise.
    What is it going to take? Now im gone back to being mad again 😂


  • #470
    splinter65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,420 ✭✭✭splinter65


    Always Be Closing wrote: »
    Lads and ladies

    Don't accept this CWO 'appointment' bollocks

    They HAVE to see to you there and then and give you a cheque. 100%

    The CWO is only in our INTREO office Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. You can’t demand to see someone who isn’t physically there.


  • #471
    nicrob08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 62 ✭✭nicrob08


    splinter65 wrote: »
    The CWO is only in our INTREO office Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. You can’t demand to see someone who isn’t physically there.

    Same with me


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  • #472
    nicrob08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 62 ✭✭nicrob08


    Jonathon W wrote: »
    I just contacted corks red fm they have asked me to come on air Tuesday but I will email Joe, on hold now again since ten so I’ll wait to see what they say for themselves this time

    Was I really listening to Red FM giving airtime to an ad on Gumtree looking for a topless cleaner yesterday?!?! I emailed Neil as well


  • #473
    nicrob08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 62 ✭✭nicrob08


    Meathmommy wrote: »
    After weeks of my payments been messed up and fixed and recieved a letter this week, 2 months later to explain, I said ok new system, give them shadow of the doubt.. until I check bank this morning and guess what, no payment!!! Its a joke.. bank holiday weekend, midterm break.. single mam to 2 kids... Happy Halloween 😥🀬

    Anyone I know that Ive spoken with today have not been paid. Cant even take the kids to free parades etc that are on cause ive no fuel in my car.


  • #474
    Always Be Closing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,332 ✭✭✭Always Be Closing


    Oh ok guys, didn't realise that - CWO's sit in Dublin every day from 9.30 to 12


  • #475
    BohsCeltic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,588 ✭✭✭BohsCeltic


    Always Be Closing wrote: »
    Oh ok guys, didn't realise that - CWO's sit in Dublin every day from 9.30 to 12

    It's untill 12.30. Well my local one is anyway I'm Dublin 15.


  • #476
    channaigh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 419 ✭✭channaigh


    Always Be Closing wrote: »
    Oh ok guys, didn't realise that - CWO's sit in Dublin every day from 9.30 to 12

    Where I live the closest one is 30 minutes drive away and is only there on a Wednesday morning for 2 hours


  • #477
    banie01
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,038 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    In the vast majority of areas outside of Dublin CWO's are available for 2 hr stints at the local primary care/Health Centre usually 1 day a week.
    And thats not just in Rural areas, I live in Limerick city my CWO is available on Wednesday and friday for @2hrs each day.
    At that it is quite a busy service and they limit the amount of tickets available.
    Not an ideal situation for anyone Ill, housebound or with restricted mobility or other issues.

    The blaisé nature of the "see your CWO" response is quite frustrating for many affected people.

    See this list for an example of how restricted availability is.


  • #478
    Bukowski69
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5 ✭Bukowski69


    Not much use to you though if, like me, you are paid on a Friday and, when you go to see a CWO in the Intreo office in Cork Street are told that you have to make an appointment to see one. Which in my case, and given that it is a Bank Holiday weekend - which is nobody's fault, not even the Romans! - means that the earliest appointment that can be made is for the following Tuesday.

    Even had it been a normal weekend, I would still have to wait until a Monday to be seen.

    So what is the alternative? Do I go into the Intreo centre every Thursday now instead, so as to make an appointment to see the CWO on the Friday, just in case my payment has not gone into my account on the Friday?

    And how fair is that on someone who will have to miss out on an appointment that day because I have taken up that slot?

    Maybe I should consult Mystic Meg every Wednesday just to see what the financial forecast will be of a Friday?

    Baring in mind that last Friday when the same thing happened, no appointment was necessary to see the CWO. I just took a seat and waited to be seen by the CWO who was very understanding and gave what little help that she could, circumstances being what they are.

    What I would like to know is, who was the genius who decided to switch back to an appointment system with the CWO when the current situation with relation to this Departmental screw-up has clearly not been resolved.

    If anyone out there reading this is a journalist or has connections to one, this scandalous situation really needs to be investigated. There is ass-covering of major proportions going on in the DSP and, for whatever reasons, the majority of the Mainstream Media are giving this shambles scant coverage or attention.

    If anyone out there has the technical savvy to put together signed emails, petition etc together as part of a campaign to alert and involve the various media - and by extension the wider public - I will happily sign up to it and give my moral support.


  • #479
    splinter65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,420 ✭✭✭splinter65


    What I want to say about the CWO is this. There aren’t that many really in the country. It’s not a job for the faint hearted. It’s not a job that you’d stay at for 20 years for example. SW don’t provide an emergency service or an out of hours service. If you think by Wednesday lunchtime that it’s possible that by Friday at 5 there’s a possibility that you may have no money left through no fault of your own, then you need to contact your local SW office on Wednesday afternoon with a view to seeing the CWO. Don’t wait till Friday.


  • #480
    banie01
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,038 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    Man with a plan wrote: »

    I have worked my whole life in IT in many huge multinational companies and the standard protocol in all or any of these companies for any major change to the system like this is comprehensive testing over and over and over of the "New" system before it gets rolled out "Live" to be absolutely 100% sure there will be no problems whatsoever.

    And during all that it must be "signed off" on by several managers along each step of the way to make sure all is in order. ie People held accountable ;)

    Was this new system even tested before being rolled out and if not why not ? and who if anybody signed off on this rollout ?

    Nothing surprises me in this kip of a country anymore !!!

    Just on this point, this is exactly the question I have asked of my local TD, The Minister responsible and the Taoiseach.

    No process change of this scope can reasonably be implemented without UAT testing.
    Someone either made a complete balls of the UAT testing and parameters and signed off on it?
    Or they didn't do any and deigned the new process as fit for purpose expecting "minor hiccups" along the way.
    Which has snowballed into a shítstorm for those of us affected.

    The lack of accountability regarding this is shocking.


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  • #481
    FloatingVoter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,133 ✭✭✭FloatingVoter


    Bukowski69 wrote: »
    ?

    If anyone out there reading this is a journalist or has connections to one, this scandalous situation really needs to be investigated. There is ass-covering of major proportions going on in the DSP and, for whatever reasons, the majority of the Mainstream Media are giving this shambles scant coverage or attention.


    I'm pessimistic on that front - just checked Google News there- last mention locally was in the Longford Leader 5 days ago. Journal.ie 9 days ago.
    I don't think the mainstream national media (ie. Independent, Times, Examiner, RTE, Sunday Times, TV3 etc) are even including this on their letters pages. Normally one would be sniping at the other for lack of coverage - I'm thinking of the Sunday Times and the Indo here in particular.

    Compare this with the schools shambles in terms of exposure and it looks like a news blackout which is unheard of outside of national security. In the real world, what looks like a conspiracy is normally plain incompetence. So the media can take a bow here too. It's not like nicking inspiration off Boards or Twitter is foreign to any of the above named.


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