carer's allowance wait time?

shellebells

great news irshpancake, i ve also been waiting since nov 2011..i got a letter today as i have been told last week that i should have word in writing this week so today i finally got the letter i ve been waiting so excited openingit, only to read that they need a copy of my maintenance order..no idea why because everything they requested at time of applying was included.. even the order. I rang and asked why do they need a second copy, she said it had not been scanned an not on their system i made her double check everything thing else was there..i sent bk a copy straight away today..i hope this doesn delay even more

So Annoyed

I still haven't had any word about when I'll be paid, it's so depressing. I got the letter a month ago to say that I had won the appeal, but still nothing? What's taking so long? It's very disheartening altogether.

Linda dub

shellebells wrote: »

great news irshpancake, i ve also been waiting since nov 2011..i got a letter today as i have been told last week that i should have word in writing this week so today i finally got the letter i ve been waiting so excited openingit, only to read that they need a copy of my maintenance order..no idea why because everything they requested at time of applying was included.. even the order. I rang and asked why do they need a second copy, she said it had not been scanned an not on their system i made her double check everything thing else was there..i sent bk a copy straight away today..i hope this doesn delay even more [/Quot

Hi all i finally got letter today just had names of carees and how much im getting weekly and date its paid from they certainly dont give much away on it!!!!! Respite grant paid into bank last week along with weekly payment quite unexpected no letter or anything. about that.. Just got all my arrears there into my bank account sooo glad its finally sorted... Only entitled half rate but no mention that in letter either but i knew was what id be getting so no suprises there..... Best of luck everyone whos still waiting and thanks for all suppirt along the way it kept me going )

smurphysutton

Its great to hear people are finally getting their entitlements, getting so fed up with the wait and the struggle now especially that my mam has cancer on top of her other problems and I now will have the expense of going up and down to Dublin with her. Oh the joys, just wish they would hurry up

So Annoyed

That's great Linda, maybe I'll get a suprise this week aswell....lol

aileach

So glad to hear that you're finally sorted out Linda Dub and irishpancake

I'm still waiting for the result of my review since the middle of july

gal girl

aileach wrote: »

So glad to hear that you're finally sorted out Linda Dub and irishpancake

I'm still waiting for the result of my review since the middle of july

I am On jobseekers allowance and am awaiting my decision from carers.I applied Feb 2012. now today I get a letter from social welfare to attend a tus interview for work 19.5 hours a week.I can't work at all because I am caring for my father in law on a full time basis but social welfare say I have to be actively seeking employment to continue to get jobseekers. I wish carers would hurry up and give me carers.

Jasssss

Great news Linda, You had such a long wait that thank god is finally over.Keep your fingers crossed for the rest of us. Coming close to 37 weeks and totally fed up.I ring and they tell me one thing and i rang again this week and was told the complete opposite.

shellebells

great news linda dub! im hoping maybe this week i ll have some word bk after sending a second copy of paperwork i have already sent i wud suggest photocopy everything because when they ask u for something u can resent the same day.I wud like to know what happens to all this 'missing' stuff...i been granted DCA bk last oct the mediical been passed so dont understand this big hold up , the girl i spoke to in carers section says it pretty much automatic after that they just looking at my income...a yr for this alone! im a lone parent...u know that saying if someone broke into my house looking for money i would get up and search with him lol:D cant get blood out of a stone!

Jasssss

Shellkebellss, I am in the same boat as you.I'm in receipt of DCA and thought because the medical was already done that the wait would not be as long[not that i wanted to skip anyone or anything] but I think the wait is worse.How long does it take would you imagine to do the means test on each person.I really would love to know how many they are getting through a day.

smelly sock

I have the DCA as well. You have to wait until it is time for your form to be seen. Unfortunately you don't go into a "medically apporved" bunch.

So it's a years waiting I'm afraid.

shellebells

i thought to be honest that it would be a whole lot quicker..def not the case....its the means side that they are looking into ..i got a call from carers today asking me for statements from other bank accounts that i dont have but she accepted this an just asked for up to date statements from the account i do have..it will show the same as last year statements.. SFA! i asked was that it was everything there now i really dont want to do all again its a waste of both mine an her time.Fingers crossed that this is the last obstacle and by next fri i ll have word

smelly sock

shellebells wrote: »

i thought to be honest that it would be a whole lot quicker..def not the case....its the means side that they are looking into ..i got a call from carers today asking me for statements from other bank accounts that i dont have but she accepted this an just asked for up to date statements from the account i do have..it will show the same as last year statements.. SFA! i asked was that it was everything there now i really dont want to do all again its a waste of both mine an her time.Fingers crossed that this is the last obstacle and by next fri i ll have word

How long have you been waiting?

So Annoyed

The carers association are looking to hear from people who have been waiting on a decision for over 6 months. I think they're trying to get statistics of how many there are. You can find them on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/carersassociation?ref=ts&fref=ts

It might be worth contacting them.

shellebells

i have been waiting since nov 2011 smelly sock...i sent off more bank statements today i hope this is the last of it.The DCA was granted and bk within a couple of weeks that why i figured carers would be the same seeing the medical side had been dealt with already it wud be only the means then, guess we all have to sit tight! My daughter is 11yrs old and she has a life long disability i applied in 2006 because there was no medical diagnoas i was refused an now that she has a name to it she ll be accepeted

smurphysutton

gal girl wrote: »

I am On jobseekers allowance and am awaiting my decision from carers.I applied Feb 2012. now today I get a letter from social welfare to attend a tus interview for work 19.5 hours a week.I can't work at all because I am caring for my father in law on a full time basis but social welfare say I have to be actively seeking employment to continue to get jobseekers. I wish carers would hurry up and give me carers.

I'm the same Gal Girl I work 2 days a week (15hours) and have been getting jobseekers allowance but looking after my mam the whole time as well, so scared that I'm going to be refused the carers because of the jobseekers even though I'm means tested for the 3 days and I'm getting very little. Its such a pain:(

So Annoyed

Still no news on my payment, got the letter from the appeals section on the 17 th of sept saying I had been awarded it, rang them this morning, it will take another 3 or 4 weeks to come through
It's so frustrating.

outback

smelly sock wrote: »

I have the DCA as well. You have to wait until it is time for your form to be seen. Unfortunately you don't go into a "medically apporved" bunch.

So it's a years waiting I'm afraid.

anyone know how long it takes for the deciding officer to make a decision?

So Annoyed

It seems to be close to a year before a decision is made

outback

i applied in nov.20011.rang sw today ana was told my application was with deciding officer,anyone know how long that takes?

irishpancake

outback wrote: »

i applied in nov.20011.rang sw today ana was told my application was with deciding officer,anyone know how long that takes?

My claim was sent in Nov 29th 2011....

just got word last week that it is being allowed!! Letter from Deciding Officer.

from 1/12/2011.

It has been paid fully into my Bank, including all arrears and the Respite Grant for 2012.

Good week in Pancakes house, struggling for so long!!!

So your wait should be over soon, IMHO.....

Best of Luck, hope you hear soon.

outback

delighted u got good news,im sure its a big relief,hope i will get the same good news soon.best of luck to u and congrats again.

smurphysutton

Congrats Irish Pancake hopefully some more people will get some more good news like that. I applied in February 2012 so still have a way to go yet by the looks but fingers crossed for all who are still waiting

aileach

My review request was received in the middle of July, I rang last week and it's still with the medical officer, not sure how long it takes, but seems like forever

smurphysutton

These are the words from our Minister for Social Protection and Family Affairs in June of this year. "Currently the average time taken to award a carer’s allowance application is 28 weeks. There are currently approximately 8,640 new carer’s allowance applications registered and awaiting a decision. Of these, there are 9 cases that have been awaiting a decision for more than 40 weeks. Certain cases take longer to decide for various reasons such as information required from a customer in order to decide a claim being unavailable or significantly delayed or where a complex case must be investigated by a social welfare inspector."

I think before she states something like that maybe she should go back and check her wait times again, I applied in February this year and I am now waiting 37 weeks that is 9 weeks over her average time and closley approaching 40 weeks where they only have 9 cases waiting. After reading some of the posts on this site its a lot more than only 9 Cases. Also after speaking to someone from the Carers Association today, they have heard that for someone who applied in February this year it may take up to January 2013 for their application to be processsed, that makes it a whole 48 weeks or more for Carers Application, and thats just a preliminary decision, you still might yet have to appeal, and from reading some peoples comments that means possibly another year waiting. What type of system do we have at all.

smelly sock

Waiting times are horrific. But what can we do? it's only been 14 weeks for me today. Haven't got any of the originals back yet etc. They have received it though. Only another 30 weeks to go!!

shellebells

my carers finally came through only 47 weeks later!!!! got a check and my travel pass in post this morn... no letter with it just details of how many weeks owed an no mention of when it either comes in to the post office or my bank account..i cant remember what way its been so long! i will ring to make sure! but im super excited

smurphysutton

Congrats Shellebells, its a disgrace in this day and age that they are taking so long to process these things

smurphysutton

OK just been on the phone again to the Carers Department, they told me they are currently now dealing with the end of December and early January applications, and she honestly couldn't tell me when they will get to my application. But what she could tell me not like some of the other people that I've been speaking to is that they will require my bank statements and a letter from my daughters school to say she is actually in school. All I could say was thank you to her because at least they haven't got to my application yet and now hopefully everything will be there.

Pat Wal27

Sent my application in on Friday and have gotten my originals back already and recieved a text saying application was recieved. Settling in for a long wait

smurphysutton

God you were lucky you got all your originals back and a text so quick, I sent my stuff in February and I only got a text in April, maybe you'll be on this so call new system that was be implemented and please god you wont have as long as a wait.

Pat Wal27

Yea I was really surprised to be honest but Im not holding my breath, but they had a write up in the indo going on about the new system, all bull Id say, but I see FLAK are taking the cause to them now , hope things might speed up a bit !!

smelly sock

Pat Wal27 wrote: »

Sent my application in on Friday and have gotten my originals back already and recieved a text saying application was recieved. Settling in for a long wait

That's some going in comparison to the most other people. I'll be ringing them later on now. Mine went in July and not a peep back yet. I do think they are getting quicker at this stage but no a lot. I think people would be prepared to wait the 24 weeks or so but 45 to 50 weeks is just crippling people with debt.

daretodream

When you do ring smelly sock, ask if you're in the new system...
Mine went in in August and I've had my stuff back too (albeit 2 months later..).
I think I could cope with 24 weeks - just. But a year, and we'd be history!

Jasssss

Hi, I also just got news this morning that I have been allowed.I just want to wish everyone the best with their application's .This forum in some way kept me going and my wait was not even as long as some on this trend.

endofrainbow

The new system really seems to be speeding things up.

Pixie71

Hi just saw this, are you guys seriously waiting a year for your applications to be looked at by the benefits office, how disgraceful !
Hope you all get sorted.

Pat Wal27

Concrats Jassss glad ta hear youve got what you deserve at last !!
Thanks Pixie

Jasssss

Thanks Pat and please god you wont be waiting that long what with this new system that the carer's dept have started using.

LegacyUser

just rang there and was told there still in the MIDDLE of November, the usual conflicting information coming from the department. the women I was speaking to was in no mood to talk by the sounds of her and was very abrupt on the phone she got annoyed when i told her i rang 5 weeks ago and ye were still dealing with November, she asked why am i ringing again and I said because we are waiting 39 weeks!!!!!! she said well were in November and that was that basically

Munstermissy

Question for you all, what's this about getting originals back in the post?? I sent in my application in May and received text confirming receipt of same in july and that's all.

Thanks.

smelly sock

It wolu appear that the new system wouldn't make that much of a difference. Just rang them.

Was told that I only applied in July and they couldn't even give me a ball park figure of how long it will take.

I was told that it depends on over time etc!!

Pat Wal27

I think Munstermissy that if you supply them with any original documents they return them, but Im open to correction on this .

smurphysutton

Jassas congrats, say your thrilled to finally have your wait over. Just reading on in some posts seems they are giving out different information to everyone, I was told on Wednesday that they are working on end of December and January applications and when I read further on they told someone today that they are only dealing with Novembers applications. I applied in February. Well I just don't know I sent all my information that they asked me and the extra stuff the lady told me about on the phone yesterday, just hoping I'll hear sometime soon or before christmas as its becoming very tough to survive and look after my mam, if it don't happen soon think I may have to look for a new job and then I don't know what will happen with my mam.

Linda dub

Jasssss wrote: »

Hi, I also just got news this morning that I have been allowed.I just want to wish everyone the best with their application's .This forum in some way kept me going and my wait was not even as long as some on this trend.

Congrats jasssssss im really delited for you... still took 9 months but im sure relief is unbeievable:))))) i got respite grant before i got letter of confirmation and following week got my first paymnt and arrears..so hopefully yours be same .. Anyhow best luck and to everyne stil waiting hang on in there you will get what you rghtly deserve

Busybee4

lordspence wrote: »

just rang there and was told there still in the MIDDLE of November, the usual conflicting information coming from the department. the women I was speaking to was in no mood to talk by the sounds of her and was very abrupt on the phone she got annoyed when i told her i rang 5 weeks ago and ye were still dealing with November, she asked why am i ringing again and I said because we are waiting 39 weeks!!!!!! she said well were in November and that was that basically

On week 43 myself, fed up waiting maybe by Christmas be 52 weeks then it's a joke!!

Jasssss

Thanks everyone.I got my first payment and all my back payment together.Then i got my travel pass,which was great.It is an awful long wait but I am glad I finally got it.

aileach

Jasssss wrote: »

Thanks everyone.I got my first payment and all my back payment together.Then i got my travel pass,which was great.It is an awful long wait but I am glad I finally got it.

That's great news Jasssss

Linda dub

aileach wrote: »

That's great news Jasssss

Aileach only thinking of you last night and wondering have you heard back yet from reveiw ?

angielongford

Hi all...i'm new here but have been following with interest. my mum applied for carers for my dad (he has about 10 medical conditions including COPD) but got a letter on 16th oct say she was refused by Chief Medical Advisor. We have gotten new supporting medical reports from his specialists and GPs now and will be seeking a review by the deciding officer next week. Does anyone have any ideal of the success rate of the reviews and how long they take?