Disability Letter from the US

highcream

Hi there,
I am writing this on behalf of my aunt who has developed a disability.
ok so,
Around a year ago she started to get extreme pain in her eyes.At first it wasnt too bad but got worse and worse to the point she could no longer open her eyes or leave the house due to the pain.Anyway,she visited about 8 opthalmologists here in ireland and they all said her eyes looked fine.Basically told her to get on with her life,stop whining and that is was all in her head:eek:
She was still in extreme pain and decided with her savings decided to travel to Boston to see an internationally recognised expert in this area.
He diagnosed her with some sort of nerve problem in her cornea,which very few docs know about.
He said he has tons of patients on disability as currently there isnt any real treatment.
Just wondering,would the social welfare office accept a letter from the US doctor?
My family are currently financing her
Thanks

Lugh Ildanach

An applicant is entitled to submit whatever medical evidence they wish to in support of their application for Disability Allowance. There may be an obligation to include information relating to the Irish diagnoses, as this is relevant information and not providing it could be considered withholding relevant information and potentially as fraud.

The claim will be assessed by the Department's own medical officers, and they will likely subject her to their own medical examination (although more than likely only after they have refused the claim).

If her claim is refused she can appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, where she can present the conflicting medical evidence.

Lugh Ildanach

While her application is pending she can submit a claim for Supplementary Welfare Allowance to her local Community Welfare Allowance. It is subject to habitual residence requirements and a means test (as is the Disability Allowance claim, although the Disability Allowance means test is more generous).