How to get disability benefit?

Celtickate · 13-01-2016 2:17am #1

I'm pretty certain I have social anxiety. I've already posted about this before but I need more details about the exact steps because I'm afraid to go the the welfare officer and ask. I've been suffering for years, hasn't spoken to anyone besides a few family members in over a year, haven't left house in three weeks.

I've skipped at least 7 dole payments so far because I'm afraid to go to the post office.

How do I get diagnosed? Do I just go to my GP or do I need a specialist?

What application form should I get? Do I get it before or after I go to the doctor?

I'm currently on the dole. Do I tell the welfare officer about my issue before diagnosed or should I wait?

I'm twenty, female, single, lives in a council house with mother and one sibling, I have no dependents or assets? On average, how much disability would I get? Would I even be entitled to it for severe anxiety?

Going to the post office every week makes me worry all week long. This entire situation is very frustrating and I've been feeling increasingly depressed and suicidal. I'm so sick of being me.

Thanks for reading, sorry there are so many questions.

Kai123 · 13-01-2016 2:25am

I had social anxiety as a young teenager, and was given disability via depression (although I was not depressed).

You will need to go to the GP at any rate, and getting disability should not be a means to an end anyway.

Looking back, I'm not sure what I could of told myself that would of helped me. Life is never static, things will happen and generally they are mostly good

njs030 · 13-01-2016 2:25am

Celtickate wrote: »

I'm pretty certain I have social anxiety. I've already posted about this before but I need more details about the exact steps because I'm afraid to go the the welfare officer and ask. I've been suffering for years, hasn't spoken to anyone besides a few family members in over a year, haven't left house in three weeks.

I've skipped at least 7 dole payments so far because I'm afraid to go to the post office.

How do I get diagnosed? Do I just go to my GP or do I need a specialist?

What application form should I get? Do I get it before or after I go to the doctor?

I'm currently on the dole. Do I tell the welfare officer about my issue before diagnosed or should I wait?

I'm twenty, female, single, lives in a council house with mother and one sibling, I have no dependents or assets? On average, how much disability would I get? Would I even be entitled to it for severe anxiety?

Going to the post office every week makes me worry all week long. This entire situation is very frustrating and I've been feeling increasingly depressed and suicidal. I'm so sick of being me.

Thanks for reading, sorry there are so many questions.

First step for any diagnosis is to see a gp and they will decide if you need to see anyone else.

You would get a disability allowance form, get it first because the doctor has to fill in part of it.

You don't need to tell anyone anything, fill in the form and send it off to the address on it.

Disability allowance is 188 per week though it is means tested.

I don't know if you can get it for anxiety, I've heard of people getting it for depression so I don't see why not. More important is that you are being treated by a doctor and getting help.

It usually takes 12-14 weeks to hear back from them so you will need to find a way to cope with going to the post office in the meantime.

Celtickate · 13-01-2016 2:35am

notjustsweet wrote: »

First step for any diagnosis is to see a gp and they will decide if you need to see anyone else.

You would get a disability allowance form, get it first because the doctor has to fill in part of it.

You don't need to tell anyone anything, fill in the form and send it off to the address on it.

Disability allowance is 188 per week though it is means tested.

I don't know if you can get it for anxiety, I've heard of people getting it for depression so I don't see why not. More important is that you are being treated by a doctor and getting help.

It usually takes 12-14 weeks to hear back from them so you will need to find a way to cope with going to the post office in the meantime.

Thanks. Are the forms just on shelves in the welfare office or do you have to ask for it from the person behind the counter?

Do I hand the form to the doctor on my first visit or do I have to wait for a a few more appointments?

Balagan · 13-01-2016 9:44am

Celtickate wrote: »

Thanks. Are the forms just on shelves in the welfare office or do you have to ask for it from the person behind the counter?

Do I hand the form to the doctor on my first visit or do I have to wait for a a few more appointments?

Chances are the doctor's office will have the application forms for Disability Allowance or can print one for you from the internet. The link is here http://www.welfare.ie/en/pdf/da1.pdf

The appointment with the GP will get the ball rolling. Take someone along with you if it makes it easier to have someone to chat to in the waiting room.

Celtickate · 13-01-2016 11:49am

Balagan wrote: »

Chances are the doctor's office will have the application forms for Disability Allowance or can print one for you from the internet. The link is here

The appointment with the GP will get the ball rolling. Take someone along with you if it makes it easier to have someone to chat to in the waiting room.

Thank you so much for the link. Do I have to sign off the dole before I can send in an application for disability?

haveringchick · 13-01-2016 11:50am

I feel for you. Can you go to see your GP? please do go and just tell him or her how you re feeling. Tell them everything. You can get help very quickly and you would be feeling a bit better very soon.
But you have to go to your GP
Ask the GP for a SW Cert. The GP will fill in some of it and you can take it home and fill in the rest
Then you can drop it in the post box at your local SW office or you can send it by post
The only thing is that your dole will stop then, so you will have to go to see the CWO at his or her local clinic
You can see the CWO in private. Bring a letter from your GP explaining your condition
The CWO will be able to send you a cheque every week which you can maybe have a family member cash for you.
Then later you can apply for Disability Allowance.

njs030 · 13-01-2016 1:15pm

Celtickate wrote: »

Thank you so much for the link. Do I have to sign off the dole before I can send in an application for disability?

No you don't have to but jsa is for jobseekers so if they are asking you to send in proof of job applications you would be better off doing what the poster said above with the exception of sending away for disability allowance asap.
Also if someone is looking after you they could apply for carers allowance- the form is available behind the counter in the sw office.

My daughter has social anxiety too so I know how hard it is, please don't hesitate to ask questions and I or someone else can give you step by step instructions to the best of our knowledge.
Make that gp appointment as soon as you can and good luck.

Celtickate · 13-01-2016 4:16pm

You're all so helpful. I'm going to make an appointment tomorrow when I get pone credit before I chicken out.

Can i just print out an application form from the internet or do I have to get an original one from the welfare office? Do the GP office actually have the forms for sure? i really can't face going to the welfare office again.

njs030 · 13-01-2016 5:38pm

Celtickate wrote: »

You're all so helpful. I'm going to make an appointment tomorrow when I get pone credit before I chicken out.

Can i just print out an application form from the internet or do I have to get an original one from the welfare office? Do the GP office actually have the forms for sure? i really can't face going to the welfare office again.

You can print one out. I would do it myself to make sure I have it ready for the doctor in case their printer isn't working or some other reason.

eastbono · 13-01-2016 11:14pm

Just to clarify while you are waiting on a decision on your DA you can continue to receive jobseekers allowance. If you are asked to provide proof of jobseeker from social welfare you can just say that you have applied for DA you dont need to say what your illness is and your office will be able to see on the system that you have a DA claim pending.

http://www.welfare.ie/en/pdf/da1.pdf link to DA form

How to get disability benefit?

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