Carers Allowance

Hi Medusa 22 just wondered did you hear anymore from carers allowance since TDs letter ? I also applied sept but was turned down end of may... Think i may have wrote to you on another thread thats been closed, but was wondering had you heard anything yet? If i remember correctly hadnt the inspector went to your home and there was some mix up with the report ? Be interested to know how you are getting on ?

Hi irish mum of 1 gud to hear frm you... The other thread was closed and as i was ranting about the system etc in fairness i shudnt have been but smtimes i get very annoyed n say things that maybe i shudnt as we all do... Anyhow good to hear from you.... You're waiting 30 weeks now ? You really shouldnt be two long waiting now . Fair play getting TDS letter etc hopefully you will hear soon... As you know i was refused after 36 weeks so i sent in letter n lots more details frm docs about my parents health for a reveiw.... If that doesnt do i may have to appeal and i know thats another long long wait!!!!! Dunno how long reveiw takes prob long time too!!!!!

Sounds extremly positive letters you have received so id say its amost certain you wii get carers. Its only medical criteria and income that needs to be assessed as far as i know but not 100% sure...please god you will
Hear very soon ... It seems very tough for you wth your sick husband and a young child how do you cope? I know theres no choice but to do so and i sincerely hope you get sorted out soon ....i know getting it Wont make your husband better but make both your lives a wee bit easier without the added stress of financial worries ... Take care will be keeping eye out for sme good news from you soon please god 

Hi aileach good to hear from you ... Im not sure about SW inspectors visit but at least you hav'nt been turned down for it.... Can only mean they look
More info so id try stay positive not an easy task with money worries and the long wait:( moderator closed thread as thought was completly off wait time subject n spose it was but everyone get so frustrated and annoyed..... Wonder how some of the others getting on... I hope some have been awarded the payment by now ... Best of luck with inspector i seriously hope you not too long waiting on decision .

Linda dub wrote: »

Sounds extremly positive letters you have received so id say its amost certain you wii get carers. Its only medical criteria and income that needs to be assessed as far as i know but not 100% sure...please god you will
Hear very soon ... It seems very tough for you wth your sick husband and a young child how do you cope? I know theres no choice but to do so and i sincerely hope you get sorted out soon ....i know getting it Wont make your husband better but make both your lives a wee bit easier without the added stress of financial worries ... Take care will be keeping eye out for sme good news from you soon please god 

Isn't it funny how we don't see how hard our situation is but we see how hard things are for others. We have been married 4 years next month and I am so used to my husband's condition now. I see how everyone else struggles while waiting and I feel for everyone especially people who have been waiting so long and got turned down.

I just take things as they come and pray that God gives me the strength and knowledge to deal with things. Plus my little boy is so good, (2 at Christmas) he is my sweetie. The last few days have been frantic here, no chance to get online for a chat. I got turned down for my keyhole for my gallstones, got called for Jury Duty starting on my 30th birthday and got told by the HSE I have 8-9 weeks to get approved for my carer's allowance or I have to find cheaper accommodation, which I really can not do as I need to be close to town to bring my husband to all his doctors appointments and we are close to family which help me out when I need them. I do not own a car. I contacted my TD again this morning as soon as I got the phone call from the HSE and they said they will make contact with the Welfare again and explain my situation has changed. They recommended I pass on the letters I got from the Welfare to my Community Officer to see if that buys me more time as they feel more then confident I will get it but that it will take more then 8-9 weeks to hear a result due to the "Respite Grant" being issued this month.

I assumed the appeal would take a long time and I sincerely hope you get regular updates so you know what it happening, its the unknown that makes us anxious waiting.

Time for a cuppa and feet up while my little one naps, the laundry can wait as its raining here

The finance side knowing it was sorted out would be a blessing alright, take care and talk soon.

Hi medusa I havent been on to anyone as i was also banned from boards for a week
Over the last thread !!!!! Yes really im fifty years old next month and have never been banned from anything spos first time for everthing !!!!! Anyhow im still waiting on reveiw of decision... I got through yesterday after ages but same story did i send it right place its not show on computer etc while last week told me all The new medical Evidence was with doctors but its an outside doctor and not always there ... Dunno what or who to belive ... I will Just have to wait AGAIN and see ... I hope you get sorted soon too
Fact that at last report sent in should hurry things up for you ... Again keep us posted 

aileach wrote: »

Hi there - the waiting for a decision is so difficult, we are also in dire financial difficulties. I had a meeting with the SW inspector last week which went well I think, I forgot to ask him when he would send the report in but he seems very efficient so I hope he sent it in right away. I had also received a request for more financial info from the CA at the end of May, that letter said that I had 21 days to send the info in, I found it very difficult to get info from one source that I needed hence I posted the info to CA the day before the 21 day deadline, I'm hoping that the received it on time - I haven't been able to phone to find out what stage my application is at - I'm afraid to really

I don't want to ring on the basis that I am keeping them from working on mine or another case. I am thinking that the extra request for information about finances is a good sign, I was asked for 6 months bank statements myself today, sent them in the post this afternoon. I think that when they are processing your application they need up to date financial information to ensure you have no extra income since you applied for the carer's allowance.

Hi, glad I found you again.

I got my documents back on Thursday, 10 weeks after I submitted my application. The note with them said I would hear shortly, so I live in hope!

All the best to people still waiting.

Skate22 - I did read through all the posts when I found the other thread and was horrified at your story. So glad you have won your appeal, and wish you all the best.

Thanks Linda dub and Katy
The posts here helped me continue to fight as it was one way of venting my frustration and knowing as well that there are a lot of people in similar situations. I will say that I wrote to the appeals dept at least twice a month with anything new I could think of and also to keep my appeal fresh in their minds. I probably tormented them in the end and alarm bells probably sounded everytime I rang. I will say to keep on top of everything and if you write ask for receipt of acknowledgement and keep every bit of correspondance you get from them. My file alone added up to 253 pages which I got a copy of.

Best of luck to all

Skate 22 that is fantastic news, also IrishMumOf1 What a relief it must be for both of you.

I received devestating news yesterday - I do not qualify for carers for either of my parents because of the medical evidence.

I am gutted and don't know what to do next. Linda Dub how did you go about the review? My letter states that I may appeal within 21 days (either before or after seeking a review by a Deciding Officer) - I don't understand that part - should I request a review and also appeal.

Thanks for all your helpful posts on this and the other threads

IrishMumOf1 wrote: »

Well done Skate22 on your hard earned win.

I too have great news. I got my decision in the post this morning and I have been awarded the carers allowance. I also got a letter to say I will receive the respite grant and I got my bus pass in a separate envelope in the post today also. What a weight has been lifted off my mind. My T.D was instrumental in getting this for me with the problems I have been having in my rent allowance. I sincerely hope everyone else here and all the others waiting hear good news soon. If you are waiting as long as I have give your local T.D a call, it can't hurt.

Great news irish mum of 1 delighted hear bit more good news you must be so releived. And wait time seems bit quicker though only by couple weeks but still its something.... The best of luck to you and your family 

Thanks for that info skate and linda. I went to the cwo today but he cannot help us financially, but he did say that the review would go to the same medical officer who made the initial decision, but that the appeal would be by an independent person. I guess we'll go for the review first, have an apt with the dr today so will try to get everything written down in as much detail as possible.

aileach wrote: »

Skate 22 that is fantastic news, also IrishMumOf1 What a relief it must be for both of you.

I received devestating news yesterday - I do not qualify for carers for either of my parents because of the medical evidence.

I am gutted and don't know what to do next. Linda Dub how did you go about the review? My letter states that I may appeal within 21 days (either before or after seeking a review by a Deciding Officer) - I don't understand that part - should I request a review and also appeal.

Thanks for all your helpful posts on this and the other threads

Aileach, so sorry to hear this, I hope you consider appealing this decision and best of luck with this.

I have asked for my case to be reviewed, still can't quite believe that I've been refused in the first place

Hi Aileach and Linda Dub

Just wanted to wish you both the best and I am glad to see that you are continuing your fight for this. Don't give up because I know you will both get there in the end. There is no harm to be ringing to find out how your claim is going and if you have anything at all that you feel may be relevant just post it in to them. You could even e-mail it for the attention of whoever is looking after your reviews. Also ask if you can get acknowledgement of receipt of anything you send.

Keep it up. Not easy I know but just hang in there.:rolleyes:

aileach wrote: »

I didn't get an acknowledgement of my review request - should I ring in to request that? Have you heard anything since Linda?

Neither did i aileach but then again never got one for first time i applied! 9 weeks since i sent mine in every time i ring i talk to different person and tell me something different ! Sooo fed up at this stage . Tried ring again today but couldnt get through at all ... Its a joke now but nobodys laughing 

aileach wrote: »

Hi Linda, have you heard anything since??

Nothing aileach ring every week but still with doctors they say ... They recieved all
The additioal info doc letters hosp reports on 30 may n still nothing 3 months later:(( how bout you did you send off any additional info when you requested reveiw? Have you had any news back at all? Sooo frustrating altogether ((

I'm waiting since Nov 1st 2011!!! They say they are dealing with OCT 2011'S Applications now.
My apparent hold up is caused by lack of doctors to look at medical evidence!
The deciding officer has passed me but the medical evidence is sitting on a desk...!!
No way to speed up the process, no other "in-between" money available. You just have to wait on them!

I will check their calculations.
I was awarded OPF last year after waiting 10 months on that.
They miscalculated/ mis-read my file.
Months later they wrote out to me saying my back money was overpaid by over €900 so they now take €5 per week off my payment while i wait 11 months on another payment.


Its a joke innit?

aileach wrote: »

waiting over a year now and living on fresh air!!

So unfair. Anyone with DCA know if CA application is processed any quicker, or is there a backlog across the board?

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could give me some information about how long it takes for the inspector to call out.. i have applied for CA about 9 mts ago and still waiting, when i rang the other day they told me i would have to wait for an inspector to call out and see me,( seemly he has my file now for the last 2 weeks) i also got a social service card in the post last week which i thought meant i was getting my payment but no such thing. any idea on the time lenght it takes for him to call...so hard financially to stay going..

hi all i was refused c/a last month sent in for a review but got a letter this morning from the appeals office so does that means my review was not granted ? also how long roughly does an appeal take ? my mothers doctor wrote a great letter stating all of her problems and i contacted joan burtons office to ask for help which was replied to in two day saying they would look into it. other than that i dont think there is anything i can do except wait

Shalamar wrote: »

Hi all,

Its great to find a thread on waiting times. I didnt realise it would be so long! My husband is disabled (broke his leg 3 years ago several surgeries etc) we got approved for disability in November and I applied for Carers in December. I rang a few times and I was told 8 weeks more to wait so that was like the end of march. So I rang again in March and I was told it was with the deciding officer and I would hear in two weeks. Two weeks were up and I rang again to be told that a letter I sent in in February from an occupational therapist (out about the house being unsuitable), in it she just explains what I do for my husband so I thought it would help. But now I'm being told this letter will hold up my application for 2-3 months now as the medical examiner is backed up. I'm so frustrated, I find that when I call them I almost hear a different story every time I call. One person said it was with the deciding officer, the next person says 2-3 months wait! I know my wait is small in comparison to a lot of people but were stressing it out now. Anybody else have this happen? I feel like telling them ignore the letter so we can have an answer but I do think it might help just frustrated that it will take so long

Its so frustrating when you are waiting for CA. Its like sometimes you are begging for money and telling lies. Caring for someone isn't always easy. I'm in the system as I was on carers benefit but it still takes ages. The only thing is they are using a new system that is supposed to put claims through quicker. But as you can see from this thread that a lot of people are months and months waiting. I got a letter from the CA section asking for more information, up to date stuff. I hope this means my claim is moving!! You can go to the community welfare officer for a supplementary payment if you're stuck, you might be entitled to that depending on your circumstances

Shalamar wrote: »

Hi Nelly, any update with your claim? I've been ringing shamelessly the past few weeks and I finally caved and went to a local TD's clinic office 2 weeks ago where he told me he'd make a few calls about my case. Rang today then and was told its finally with the medical examiner but its a private doc they send it to so no telling how long it'll take from there and as soon as they would know they would contact me on the phone... at least I think he said phone lol Does everyone get a welfare visit? I was hoping it would be a simple matter of if its approved then I get a scheduled payment, now I'm wondering if I'll get an inspector out to visit or if its different seeing as my husband got approved for disability and that's who I'm claiming for. And as for CWO's, they closed all the local clinics in my area and I think I could be waiting forever to go visit them! Such a nightmare. I suppose I should just be happy its moving a bit forward! Baby steps!

Hi Shalamar, I've been ringing every week myself and a lot of the time I get different information. I think my claim went in a month after yours, mine went in January. They looked for updated information a few weeks ago and I was told that once that was received they would look into it. That obviously didn't happen. Last week they told me I should hear something by the middle of May so I just chanced my arm ringing today, they told me today that the claim is just with the medical examiner this week and is in the queue (the told me 3 months ago, 2 months ago, last week etc..... that my claim was with the medical examiner!) Today I said nothing as I don't want to piss anyone off!!! Its obviously in a queue and they just want to give you some sort of information. I'll ring again next week.

With regards to the inspectors visit, I asked about that in one of my calls and they told me that the inspector doesn't call out for all claims, maybe ones that need to be questioned eg self employment, caring for someone you don't live with etc so a lot of means tests are done in house.

I hope you hear some good news soon and its very difficult to wait for a decision knowing that you re doing all you are meant to do (caring for someone and supplying all information etc) and still to hear nothing! Best of luck!!