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Frequently Asked Questions
We have put together few of the most common questions that are asked from
our development officers. The answers given here are not meant to be complete,
but to give you some idea how to go about the issue, and where to go for more
help.
Comhairle has published a practical guide "Entitlements for People
with Disabilities". It outlines all benefits, allowances and services
to people with disabilities in Ireland. It is available from
List of FAQ's
GENERAL
You can be entitled to a variety of benefits and allowances.
- Benefit: If you have paid 39 weeks of PRSI contributions.
- Allowance: If you have NOT paid 39 weeks of PRSI.
- You cannot have both benefit and allowance.
- Both benefit and allowance can be taxable income, for example if
you are working over 20 hrs per week.
Please Note!
- If you are turned down for any benefit or allowance you can appeal.
Ask for an aural appeal where you can bring an advocate with you if you so
wish.
- Always remember to send all information available with your application.
For example letters from your doctor or hospital records.
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MAIN BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES
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You may also be entitled to the Household Benefits Package.
The three allowances that up the package are Electricity, Natural Gas or Bottled
Gas Refill Allowance, Telephone Allowance and Free Television Licence. You
can get application forms from post offices and from Pensions Service Office,
College Road, Sligo, tel: 07 14 83 71.
Find out more at
http://www.oasis.gov.ie/retirement/benefits_and_entitlements_for_older_people/household_benefits_package.html
Contact the Housing Association for a list of social housing. You can
find a list of Housing associations at the Irish Council for Social Housing
50 Merrion Square East
Dublin 2
Tel: 01 66 18 33 4
http://www.icsh.ie/network/intro.html
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- Firstly, contact the housing department of your local authority for
an application form.
- Secondly, contact your local health board to get in touch with an
occupational therapist. She or he must assess your needs in the house before
the grant application can be processes.
Please note!
- If you are a tenant of a corporation or county council accommodation,
all work must be carried out by your local authority.
- If you own your house, you are allowed a grant up to a maximum
of €20,320. However, at present many local authorities have reduced the maximum
amount.
More information on housing grant:
http://www.oasis.gov.ie/housing/housing_grants/disabled_persons_grants.html
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You are entitled to benefits and allowances both as a disabled driver and
a disabled passenger.
- Motorised transport grant allows you to make adaptations
to your motor vehicle in order to drive it. The vehicle must be essential
to you to make a living. In certain cases somebody else may be approved to
drive for you if you are capable of it because of you disability. Apply to
your local health board.
- Disabled Drivers and Passengers Tax Relief is for
people with severe disabilities who use specially adapted motor vehicle as
drivers or passengers. Apply to Disabled Drivers Section, Central Repayments
Office, Office of the Revenue Commissioners, Coolshannagh, Co Monaghan. Locall: 18 90 60 60 61
- Disabled Person's Parking Card is for people with
disabilities and registered blind people. It applies to the person rather
than the car. This card applies to public car parking in designated areas
and disc parking. Parking card with the EU
logo can be used within the 15 member states of the EU.
- Apply to
- Irish Wheelchair Association, National Mobility Centre,
John Sullivan Resource Centre, Ballingappa Road, Clane, b Kildare Tel: 04
58 93 09 4
- The Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland, Ballindine,
b Mayo. Tel: 09 46 42 66
or
09 46 40 54
Irish Wheelchair Association and Disabled Drivers Association of
Ireland also give advice on suitable car adaptations. They also run
driving schools.
For more information on the benefits mentioned above as well as others
visit http://www.oasis.gov.ie/transport/transport_and_disability
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- When you accept your place in college or university, let the registrar
know that you need help regarding access.
- Then contact the disability officer to arrange an interview and explain
to him or her what you need. The person might also be called an access officer.
- If you need help with finding suitable accommodation, tell this to
the disability officer as well.
- You can talk to the disability officer about special funds available
for disabled students.
AHEAD,
the Association for Higher Education and Disability, has more information
for people with disabilities who want to study in a college or university.
Their website has a lot of useful information: www.ahead.ie
Universities and colleges - Disability Services:
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- You can contact the Equality Authority (EA) at 18 90 24 55 45 or text phone
01 41 73 38 5. info@equality.ie | http://www.equality.ie
- Tell them what happened. EA will then explain to you is this covered
by the Equal Status or Equal Employment Act and how the process works.
- You will be asked to fill a form. If this is an employment case the
form will be passed to the Equality Tribunal, in other cases it is sent to
the service provider.
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