HAVE YOU BEEN REFUSED DOMICILIARY CARE ALLOWANCE?
HAVE YOU BEEN REFUSED DOMICILIARY CARE ALLOWANCE?
WE NEED YOUR ACCOUNT
According to recent figures from the Department of Social Protection nearly 2 out of every 3 applications for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) are refused. This stands as a huge 62% refusal rate which represents a trebling of the refusal rate for children with intellectual disabilities and autism since 2009 when the administration of the scheme was taken over by the Department of Social Welfare.
The usual reason for refusal is on the grounds that the child does not meet the medical criteria and that therefore it is not demonstrated that the child needs care and attention over and above that required by a typically developing child of the same age. This illustrates the lack of understanding the Department of Social Welfare has towards autism as a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder which is reflected in the flawed application process. It also places more pressure on families applying for a welfare payment which puts them through the mill of appeals and oral hearings, not to mention the expense of this extended process on the state, which could be avoided if a diagnosis of ASD was a separately recognised condition under the scheme.
The IAA are arranging meetings with the new Ministers of the 31st Dail and the systematic refusal of DCA to families affected by autism is one of the issues to be raised. In order to fully illustrate the distress and frustration this issue causes to families we need your testimony.
Please email info@autismireland.ie with your account of application, refusal, appeal(s). Title your email DCA and should you wish to remain anonymous please make this clear at the beginning of your email.
“Help us to be a voice for those who have none!”
