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Domiciliary Care Allowance

135

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  • Registered Users Posts: 19,585 ✭✭✭✭Lady Chatterton


    There is an interesting article about DCA here, if this lady wins her case it could make things interesting.

    http://www.independent.ie/national-news/courts/mother-with-autistic-children-challenges-care-allowance-decision-3362415.html


  • Registered Users Posts: 139 ✭✭Jasssss


    What happens when a child that is receiving Domiciliary care Allowance turns 16 but is still in need of care and attention.I have heard of the Disability Allowance and have also heard of people that were refused for their child.Has anyone been through this and can you please advice me.How soon should we apply before my child turns 16 etc.Will the review that is taken place extend the age for domiciliary care allowance to 18?.


  • Registered Users Posts: 29 lillypopkins


    Hi jasssss i have applied for the dom care allowance i have sent all reports from enable ireland and doctors do you think this will be enough to get it. When they turn 16 the payment changes to an independant payment for your child obviously you will be dealing with what way its used but i think thats how it works


  • Registered Users Posts: 139 ✭✭Jasssss


    Hi lillypopkins, I was initially refused and then ended up after a year and a half sending in a new application from scratch.My first application included OT reports,Phychologist's reports and many more including the bit from my GP.I was refused on the grounds of medical evidence.It was only when my child was seen by a top consultant and a report was sent in from this person along with a letter requesting that my child be awarded the Domiciliary Allowance that I was granted the Allowance.The time and money I spent getting these reports was a complete nightmare.I do wish you the very best with your application I'm not sure how much weight these OT AND Speech therapist reports really carry it was the consultants report that done it for me. Best of luck again.


  • Registered Users Posts: 29 lillypopkins


    I did hear that they are refusing everyone and if that is the case i dont know what else i can do i really cant afford to get more repots the psychologist wrote a detailed page on how much care he needs so hopefuly it might help but im not very hopeful to be honest .thanks so much for the information i will keep ye updated will know in two weeks

    thanks


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  • Registered Users Posts: 139 ✭✭Jasssss


    lillypopkins, have any of these therapist's and Doctor's actually wrote that it is their opinion that your child needs care and attention above that of a child of the same age.


  • Registered Users Posts: 29 lillypopkins


    Yes it is written in the report that he needs extra care and attention compared to another child of his age it also states that he will need to attend a special pre school as he wont be able for mainstream do you think this could be enough if its not i dont know what else i can give them as the team have written everything about him already hope it go through

    thanks


  • Registered Users Posts: 29 lillypopkins


    it also say that in the opinion of all the team in enable ireland including speech therapist occupational therapist and psychologist that they feel i am entitled to the payment please god it will be ok


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,281 ✭✭✭Gmol


    it also say that in the opinion of all the team in enable ireland including speech therapist occupational therapist and psychologist that they feel i am entitled to the payment please god it will be ok

    Have sent in the letter from Enable Ireland and it was rejected, (which I expected based on what other peoples' experience) am preparing for the review with other letters and further info from Enable Ireland and a breakdown of a typical day, best of luck though be ready to appeal, they don't seem to recognise autism as they regard other disabilities which is a disgrace.


  • Registered Users Posts: 29 lillypopkins


    Hi gmol sorry to hear you got rejected what a sad country we live in that dont regard the needs of childrens with autism if my son god forbid had a missing leg he would get it but not with autism which i feel is harder on parents than a physical disability and also on the children . I probably will get refused also i dont know what else i can give them as they wrote ever thing about him on enable irl letter and said he need more care. do you mind me asking is your child going to mainstream school and how long did you wait for decision sorry now its just so frustrating the wait

    thanks


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1 Sharon.Willats


    My daughter had a MRI scan as a baby which showed areas of her brain underdeveloped. She suffer from autistic and OCD systoms, oral dyspraxia and behavioural and physical problems. We battled with the education board for three years to get her resource help in school. I constantly phoned her consultants and therapists. We had to pay privatly for an assessment at The Sunflower Clinic, Cork and the education board finally granted her resource hours. My daugher is proof that for some children with special needs, the help at school makes a huge difference.

    Take each day as it comes and never give up the fight would be the advice I can give any parent of a child with special needs.


  • Registered Users Posts: 10 lionheart09


    Hi lillypopkins I applied for domiciliary back in June when my son was diagnosed with autism I was refused within six weeks so I sent back letters from all therapist stating he did need far more care than a normal child for a review of my application but I got refused again six more weeks later I have now sent in appeals letter but have done so through my local TD but was told it could take over a year to hear back but I'm not giving up so keep fighting. Good luck. By the way has anyone heard anymore on the Garda women who is taking her case to the high court .


  • Registered Users Posts: 29 lillypopkins


    god they should be giving it to parents of children with autism obviously they have no clue as to what is involved in a average day for us if they did we would certainly be awarded it . lionheart have you also sent psychologist report with your and occupational therapist letter when you were refused im just tryin to figure out what else i can get together incase im refused

    thanks


  • Registered Users Posts: 10 lionheart09


    Lillypopkins I have senteverything I received for my son when he had assessment of need done. Psychologist, SLT, paediatrician,GP,Social worker all stating that he requires extra care far more than a normal child of same age. Go back to all therapist if your refused and ask for letters stating that your child needs far more care than a child of same age and keep your diary make things worse if you have to but I know you don't as your day is not like an ordinary day as like some mothers. I really do hope you get what your entitled to gods knows you earned it.best of luck


  • Registered Users Posts: 29 lillypopkins


    it is awfull because i dont want to rely on this i would love to go to work again but it is not possible at the moment i wish they would take all of this into account when deciding this i dont drink/smoke so the money would be 100 % going to improve his life and make life a little easier please god you get it this time i will keep you informed im due to hear by end of march thanks lionheart09 :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 10 lionheart09


    Thanks lillypopkins keep us up to date please god you get it without having to appeal a friend of mine had to wait nearly a 18 months for her appeal to be dealt with but did get it back dated but it's now you need the financial help not 18 months down the line hopefully I won't have to wait that long like yourself I would love to work again but not possible at this time


  • Registered Users Posts: 139 ✭✭Jasssss


    Lillypopkins,I never wanted to apply for the Domiciliary care allowance for my child.I wanted to be out working and wanted to go back to the days that I did work and was mixing with my work mates.I never even signed on the dole in my life.At one stage i was handing out 200 euro a week to therapist's for my son.Now my husband was working and still is but we could not afford this money any more.I had to like many other parents around the country apply for this allowance. So dont feel guilty about this payment because it's for your child that needs it.Keep fighting for your child's right because nobody else will.


  • Registered Users Posts: 10 lionheart09


    Hi lillypopkins just to let you know I have received a letter just now awarding me domiciliary allowance for my son I'm so happy I can't describe how much so don't give up remember I was refused twice and it came good in the end. Best of luck keep us updated.


  • Registered Users Posts: 29 lillypopkins


    thankyou jassss i will fight it all the way obviously this medical assessor has no relative or child with autism because if they had i bet we would all receive this first go best of luck to you all hope it comes through for you i will let you know also when i hear . do they just send a letter to inform you then if your getting it /not and as to why they refused .

    thanks


  • Registered Users Posts: 29 lillypopkins


    ah lionheart i am thrilled for you can only imagine the burden this will take off you and your child great news you got what you deserved in the end x


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  • Registered Users Posts: 29 STAR2011


    Not sure if this will help people but my sister had an appeal hearing recently and was awarded the DA for her son. We found it hard to get information on the actual hearing at the time so maybe this will help someone. (I went in with her).

    There was only one person at the hearing and the first thing we noted and were told was that the person taking the hearing is not a doctor or a person with a medical background so don't rely on medical info in medical terms because it will make no sense to him/her.

    What he focused on was the day to day care of my sisters son and why the care he needed was over and above that of a "normal" teenager. Loads of questions regarding a very detailed examination of when you get up in the morning, typical day, describe your worst day and now your best day. And then had to descibe what the day was like the day before - have this prepared because if it was a good day you will do yourself no favours describing this.

    We backed up the claim with a letter from the school detailing how many days missed and how many days he had to leave school to come home due to his illness since September. We also had a very detailed consultant report written in fairly plain English so it could be understood.
    Questioned about the qualilty of life my nephew had and the impact on his social skills as a result of the illness and the impact on the rest of the family. He also focused on the adminstration of medicine and who administered it and how often it had to be taken etc etc

    The feeling within the interview was - we have refused you this now you need to prove to us we made a mistake.

    My sister received word 2 weeks later that the DA had been awarded and the back pay came through two after that.

    I hope that helps some of you going to an appeal hearing.


  • Registered Users Posts: 29 lillypopkins


    thanks for the information do you know how she managed to get a meeting with them :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 29 STAR2011


    Was refused on first application and requested an hearing when we appealed the decision. Applied April 2012, refused Sept 2012, appealed straight away and had the appeal hearing in Dec, her first payment and back money was received 2 weeks ago.


  • Registered Users Posts: 65 ✭✭ladsmammy


    Hello, here is my story so far. My son has ADHD, dyslexia, SPD and a history of self harming

    Sept 2012 sent original application. Included everything I had, all reports, diary detailing everything we do

    Oct 2012 letter to say that claim was denied on medical grounds so I rang to request a review

    Nov 2012 letter to say review was denied so I contacted my local TD and we sent an application to the appeals office. Got
    a letter from them within a week to say they had received the appeal

    Feb 2013 rang the appeals office to see where it was and was told that they were still waiting for the file to be sent from the DCA section. Rang the DCA section to see where the file was and was told that it was waiting to be looked at before it was send over to the appeals office

    Mar 2012 rang the appeals office to see where it was and was told that they were still waiting for the file to be sent from the DCA section. Rang the DCA section to see where the file was and was told that it was waiting to be looked at before it was send over to the appeals office

    The file should be looked at in the next 2 weeks and then if refused again will be sent to the appeals office.

    That means that 3 different people will have looked at it in the DCA section. I think this is a total waste of time and money and they seem to be justifying their jobs. Why have 3 people to look at 1 application ???


  • Registered Users Posts: 420 ✭✭picturehangup


    Hi,
    This seems to be the way it is going. My son who has ASD and all the accompanying 'dyses' in the book, is going through the precise same thing in relation to his application for DA. This is shameful and negligent of the DSP. I too have been going from Billy to jack in roundabouts and circles. This is a money-saving exercise designed to frustrate parents in the hope they will vanish into thin air.
    They are telling everyone it will be'looked at in two weeks;' I have heard that so many times in the past few months. They told me yesterday it would now be 6 months, as there is 'no doctor' to review the file. All a string of lies.
    Next step for me is legal action. Deciding Officers will not take calls, rude officials, see the FLAC report. A process not fit for purpose according to Ombudsman. Three people to look at one application, is because the first two were probably only so called 'desk assessments, hence they were unqualified Doctors, as happened in my case.
    Hope you get good news soon.

    Picturehangup


  • Registered Users Posts: 29 lillypopkins


    im due to find out end of march but im not holding out much hope even tho we got very detailed reports from early intervention team will keep you informed did it just take a month for you first refusal sept-oct the wait is 8 weeks ive been told its with the medical now and they waitn to hear back the lady was very nice on the phone but im sure that means nothing :(


  • Registered Users Posts: 29 lillypopkins


    also have any of you been granted the home tuition grant or are your children in main stream school i was told this will come through very quick and that its nothing like the wait for dom care grant thanks any info would be great :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 10 lionheart09


    Hi. Lillypopkins just to let you know that after I received my letter awarding doms last week I sent it straight to the carers section and have received letter granting me carers from next week. I sent carers and doms application in together but got refused carers because didn't have doms but when I got awarding doms to get back to them so I did I got it back after a week. Best of luck to everyone that's applied and keep fighting


  • Registered Users Posts: 29 lillypopkins


    Hi thanks for the info i have already applied for the carers also and have been told the same as that if i get dom awarded then my carers wont be far behind so fingers xd . great that you got it i know how much it will mean if i get it so i imagine your thrilled to finally have it in order thanks alot


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  • Registered Users Posts: 23 Kate1968


    Hi.
    My son is a student of second year in IT Sligo. He was diagnosed as an adult with ADD. I am on Back To Education Allowance and our incomes are very poor. Can he claim for Disability Allowance? What other benefits can we get? It is very hard for us to live now, we have euro 342 a week for three of us. Can my partner apply for Carer Allowance? If someone have knowledge about ADHD or ADD and how it works with Social Welfare I will be very appreciate.


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