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carers allowance application process

  • 29-08-2018 5:46pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 14


    Hi,

    I applied for carers allowance on May 25th & heard nothing from them since. Not even an acknowledgement of receipt. So this week marked 3 months so I rang. Got through to a woman who told me that currently they are processing applications for the first week in May. So it will be 2 or 3 weeks before they get to mine. I asked at what stage the application was at and she said, it's been 'cleared' by the medical officer and send on to the deciding officer where it will be means tested etc and then a decision will be made. Just wondering what 'cleared' by medical officer means, cleared as in approved? Anyone know any further information?


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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 1,812 ✭✭✭lulu1


    Yes I would think it has been approved and the social welfare will visit to and decide what you are entiteled to


  • Registered Users Posts: 14 Lucasgirl1980


    lulu1 wrote: »
    Yes I would think it has been approved and the social welfare will visit to and decide what you are entiteled to

    Social welfare will visit? I'd imagine if the medical side was declined they wouldn't even bother means testing it. I guess I just wait and see cos you just drive yourself nuts trying to guess. Thanks for your help 😊


  • Registered Users Posts: 27,939 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    Mod But it looks as though the medical aspect has been approved? Lulu has done her best with your question, your being short with replies will not encourage other people to give advice!


  • Registered Users Posts: 14 Lucasgirl1980


    looksee wrote: »
    Mod But it looks as though the medical aspect has been approved? Lulu has done her best with your question, your being short with replies will not encourage other people to give advice!

    How was I being short? I just queried one part of her answer. Expressed my frustration with the waiting process. And thanked her for her help


  • Registered Users Posts: 14 Lucasgirl1980


    How was I being short? I just queried one part of her answer. Expressed my frustration with the waiting process. And thanked her for her help

    Actually, genuinely baffled! It certainly wasn't my intention to be rude and I apologise if it came across that way. Thank you lulu for your answer. I only queried the part about the social welfare visit, as in, they really do that? The rest was either me thinking out loud or having a moan about the waiting process, certainly nothing relating to your answer.

    This is a really wonderful service that helps people a lot, however it's not easy to ask some of this stuff, anonymously or not & not everybody is good at expressing themselves. Its certainly not made easier if your going to be pounced upon for even a perceived slight. If I had said something genuinely rude, I'd hold my hands up, but I didn't so ill leave it at that and go elsewhere for any help in future.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 27,939 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    PM sent


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,812 ✭✭✭lulu1


    Social welfare will visit? I'd imagine if the medical side was declined they wouldn't even bother means testing it. I guess I just wait and see cos you just drive yourself nuts trying to guess. Thanks for your help ��

    I am not sure about how they do things in your area but where i live the social welfare officer comes to your home they will have all the info that you submitted with them and go through it with you


  • Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭dmcguq10


    Hi,

    I applied for carers allowance on May 25th & heard nothing from them since. Not even an acknowledgement of receipt. So this week marked 3 months so I rang. Got through to a woman who told me that currently they are processing applications for the first week in May. So it will be 2 or 3 weeks before they get to mine. I asked at what stage the application was at and she said, it's been 'cleared' by the medical officer and send on to the deciding officer where it will be means tested etc and then a decision will be made. Just wondering what 'cleared' by medical officer means, cleared as in approved? Anyone know any further information?

    Have you heard anything back yet? I applied on May 29th and haven't heard back from them.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14 Lucasgirl1980


    dmcguq10 wrote: »
    Have you heard anything back yet? I applied on May 29th and haven't heard back from them.

    Hiya,

    If you go to welfare.ie and at the bottom right hand side of the page is an option called ask a question/general enquiries. Click on that and follow the instructions. They got back to me within 24 hrs.

    As of September 14th, they were currently examining applications week ending may 12th. Mine was may 24th so should be next week, yours should be week after then.

    Hope that helps 😊


  • Registered Users Posts: 14 Lucasgirl1980


    Just to update anyone who has been waiting ages. Their is light at the end of the tunnel.

    I got approved today for carers allowance backdated from may 24th, including respite grant.

    I'm rather surprised as I didn't send a lot of information from doctors or anything. So I was ready to send more information.

    It's a ridiculous process that leaves already stressed out people, even more stressed out and with their lives on hold as you can't pursue any further options until you either get approved or not. Almost 5 months of waiting and worrying. Trying to take care of dad while being hounded by social welfare and turas nua.

    Anyway I hope this eases someones worry even a little bit. If anyone has any questions ask away.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 810 ✭✭✭kathleen37


    Good for you!

    I phoned them today as I still haven't heard anything since I sent back my Habitual Residence form (which they requested beginning August - my application originally went in beginning of April...) They said my details were with the Social Welfare office since August and the Inspector would be coming round to go through my details re the means testing. I think the issues with my application is that since living here since 2002, I've only ever worked in Northern Ireland so have never paid tax here (even though I've only ever lived in Donegal)

    Did you get a visit from Social Welfare? Nervous about that now.

    Thanks


  • Registered Users Posts: 14 Lucasgirl1980


    kathleen37 wrote: »
    Good for you!

    I phoned them today as I still haven't heard anything since I sent back my Habitual Residence form (which they requested beginning August - my application originally went in beginning of April...) They said my details were with the Social Welfare office since August and the Inspector would be coming round to go through my details re the means testing. I think the issues with my application is that since living here since 2002, I've only ever worked in Northern Ireland so have never paid tax here (even though I've only ever lived in Donegal)

    Did you get a visit from Social Welfare? Nervous about that now.

    Thanks


    Hi

    No I didn't get any visit from social welfare. Nor was i asked for any further information. I think it was so straight forward for me because I was a carer for my mother a few years ago so I'm already in the system etc.

    I am surprised they didn't ask for more medical details though. I had paperwork here ready to go if needed.

    The other bit of advice I'd give you is to ring and email constantly. In the last month I've sent them a message at least twice a week and then rang every Friday. Puts a bit more pressure on them.

    Best of luck with it


  • Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭dmcguq10


    Got a letter requesting the 'proper' bank statements from the bank and not print outs. Does this mean that the doctor has looked at the case yet?

    Also I'm on JSA however I am currently suffering severe stress and will be going to gp. If I was to be put on illness benefit would this affect the ongoing claim to carers?


  • Registered Users Posts: 14 Lucasgirl1980


    Hi


    Well when i first rang it had cleared the medical doctor and had been sent onto the deciding officer where it would be means tested. So if their looking at bank statements i reckon the medical offficers have cleared it.



    It seems to go through 3 stages, Medical officer, then onto the financial officer, who means tests the applicants and then its sent onto a deciding officer who looks at everything and decides if you have a claim or not.


    I reckon you would have a hard time claiming carers allowance if you are on an illness benefit as you would have to be fit & healthy enough to take care of another person. Thats just my opinion though, i dont know for sure, the only way to know for sure is to ring them and ask.:) Good luck


  • Registered Users Posts: 27,939 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    Hm, someone is going to have to come up with a way of authenticating bank statements and the like if government bodies are going to reject print outs. The banks are almost disappeared from the real world of communications as it is, getting 'real' bank statements could be difficult.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14 Lucasgirl1980


    It is ridiculous that they won't accept printouts. As far as getting 'real' statements, to be fair, i ordered it from my bank and had it within 5 working days. Just went online and ordered under 'order duplicate statements' and that was it.



    I think its just the inconvenience it causes because most people will just get the printouts without checking & then whatever their applying for gets further delayed while you order the duplicates.



    Theirs also a fairly hefty charge for duplicates statements, i think its 3.80 for the first page & 2.50 for each additional page. :mad:


  • Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭dmcguq10


    It is ridiculous that they won't accept printouts. As far as getting 'real' statements, to be fair, i ordered it from my bank and had it within 5 working days. Just went online and ordered under 'order duplicate statements' and that was it.



    I think its just the inconvenience it causes because most people will just get the printouts without checking & then whatever their applying for gets further delayed while you order the duplicates.



    Theirs also a fairly hefty charge for duplicates statements, i think its 3.80 for the first page & 2.50 for each additional page. :mad:


    I ordered a real statement yesterday from one of the machines which takes 5 working days. The letter from carers allowance stated that printouts were acceptable as long as they were stamped by the bank however the bank refused to stamp them. They said they don't stamp anything.


    Rang up carers today as was told that after I post back the documentation they require I should have a decision within 2 - 3 weeks. They could not tell me what stage of the application my claim was at.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,071 ✭✭✭Peig Sayers


    dmcguq10 wrote: »
    I ordered a real statement yesterday from one of the machines which takes 5 working days. The letter from carers allowance stated that printouts were acceptable as long as they were stamped by the bank however the bank refused to stamp them. They said they don't stamp anything.


    Rang up carers today as was told that after I post back the documentation they require I should have a decision within 2 - 3 weeks. They could not tell me what stage of the application my claim was at.

    I had that problem with my bank. They wouldn't stamp my statement. I dug my heels in and finally got it stamped. Such nonsense.


  • Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭dmcguq10


    Got refused carers allowance in the middle of November I then appealed and got a letter in the first week of December saying my appeal was granted. Rang up the appeals office last week and was told that they are just waiting on Longford to send over forms to the appeals office.

    Does anyobe know how long this process takes?


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,420 ✭✭✭splinter65


    dmcguq10 wrote: »
    Got refused carers allowance in the middle of November I then appealed and got a letter in the first week of December saying my appeal was granted. Rang up the appeals office last week and was told that they are just waiting on Longford to send over forms to the appeals office.

    Does anyobe know how long this process takes?

    It depends on wether you were getting another SW payment while you were waiting or were someone’s dependent while waiting.
    If you were then Longford will have to wait for your local office to send back details so they can calculate how much arrears you’ll get and also if you are already someone’s dependent then it may be financially worth your while to stay that way and take 1/2 rate Carers.
    All in all it could be another month but it will be backdated so look at it as a little savings club.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭dmcguq10


    splinter65 wrote: »
    It depends on wether you were getting another SW payment while you were waiting or were someone’s dependent while waiting.
    If you were then Longford will have to wait for your local office to send back details so they can calculate how much arrears you’ll get and also if you are already someone’s dependent then it may be financially worth your while to stay that way and take 1/2 rate Carers.
    All in all it could be another month but it will be backdated so look at it as a little savings club.

    When I said in the post the appeal was granted what I should have said was the letter stated that they have received all my appeal documentation which included consultant letters etc and that they would look at all and make a decision in due course.

    Because they are waiting on correspondace from Longford does that indicate that I have been approved? The person in the appeals office did not indicate I was approved.

    I am on JSA my partner is on DA.


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,420 ✭✭✭splinter65


    dmcguq10 wrote: »
    When I said in the post the appeal was granted what I should have said was the letter stated that they have received all my appeal documentation which included consultant letters etc and that they would look at all and make a decision in due course.

    Because they are waiting on correspondace from Longford does that indicate that I have been approved? The person in the appeals office did not indicate I was approved.

    I am on JSA my partner is on DA.

    Ok so your appeal is not granted it has just been received in the appeals office.
    The appeals office have requested your fie from CA in Longford. The appeal can’t move forward until they get your file. It doesn’t mean that your appeal is allowed.
    I’m sorry but appeals are taking at least 6 months because of these delays.
    All I can tell you is that if you gather any further evidence to support your appeal in particular medical evidence you should send it to the appeals office immediately but don’t forget to include your PPSN.


  • Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭dmcguq10


    Quick Update,

    Initially applied back in May got refused in November sent off appeal forms with medical and consultant reports and appeal was received at start of December. I rang up the appeals office today and they have said its passed 2 stages and has to go through 2 more one of which is a medical officer. Should have a final decision within a month.


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,420 ✭✭✭splinter65


    dmcguq10 wrote: »
    Quick Update,

    Initially applied back in May got refused in November sent off appeal forms with medical and consultant reports and appeal was received at start of December. I rang up the appeals office today and they have said its passed 2 stages and has to go through 2 more one of which is a medical officer. Should have a final decision within a month.

    Best of luck with it all


  • Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭dmcguq10


    Person who I am caring for has a appointment with Consultant at the end of this week. I contacted Carers appeals today and told them that I had an appointment and would it be worthwhile sending off 'updated medical info' and they said of course it would be worthwhile. So I'm planning on posting off a letter from the consultant after we meet.

    The lady on the phone said its on the 'final decision' now and it has passed the medical officer. What does this mean exactly as the woman would not elaborate too much?


  • Registered Users Posts: 810 ✭✭✭kathleen37


    I had a meeting with the local social welfare inspector and I was told that was the last stage. They were really nice, and very helpful.


  • Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭dmcguq10


    kathleen37 wrote: »
    I had a meeting with the local social welfare inspector and I was told that was the last stage. They were really nice, and very helpful.

    Best of luck, its a long tough process


  • Registered Users Posts: 60 ✭✭jmcgill16


    Question for anyone who's been through this - my neighbour applied for Carers last September. She got refused in early January and sent in additional documents for review in mid January. She hasn't heard anything since, but a letter saying she'd been awarded a free travel pass, and then a new PSC card with free travel on it, arrived for her in the post last week. Nothing else since.

    I told her I presumed thats a good sign - does anyone know if that mean shes gotten it, and the free travel section just sorted things faster than the Carer's Allowance section? I can't find anything on Google about this happening.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,812 ✭✭✭lulu1


    jmcgill16 wrote: »
    Question for anyone who's been through this - my neighbour applied for Carers last September. She got refused in early January and sent in additional documents for review in mid January. She hasn't heard anything since, but a letter saying she'd been awarded a free travel pass, and then a new PSC card with free travel on it, arrived for her in the post last week. Nothing else since.

    I told her I presumed thats a good sign - does anyone know if that mean shes gotten it, and the free travel section just sorted things faster than the Carer's Allowance section? I can't find anything on Google about this happening.

    Yes I would say she had been awarded it if she got these in the post


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  • Registered Users Posts: 9,420 ✭✭✭splinter65


    jmcgill16 wrote: »
    Question for anyone who's been through this - my neighbour applied for Carers last September. She got refused in early January and sent in additional documents for review in mid January. She hasn't heard anything since, but a letter saying she'd been awarded a free travel pass, and then a new PSC card with free travel on it, arrived for her in the post last week. Nothing else since.

    I told her I presumed thats a good sign - does anyone know if that mean shes gotten it, and the free travel section just sorted things faster than the Carer's Allowance section? I can't find anything on Google about this happening.

    That’s nailed on that she has it. Just sit tight and she’ll get a letter soon. Good for her.


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