How to Complain

Many people who apply for a disability or carer type of welfare payment have their application refused.

Appeals have very high success rates. In 2017, more than 7 in 10 Disability Allowance appeals were successful.

If you were refused a payment, you can appeal this to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on this form. You must do this in less than 21 days.

Get help from an advocate, family member, or friend if you need it.

The first step is for a ‘deciding officer’ to look at your case again and any new information you send.

This desk review can take a long time. Some reviews take 20 weeks.

You should send in any extra information to support your case. This could be a doctor’s letter, a therapists report or a care diary. Send it to the Department you were dealing with. See here for contact details.

If the ‘review’ does not change the decision you will get a meeting with an Appeals Officer. You will be able to state your case in person.

You should send in any extra information to support your case. This could be a doctor’s letter, a therapist’s report, or a care diary.

If you are unhappy with how your appeal and review were handled you can complain to the Office of the Ombudsman www.ombudsman.ie

If you are unhappy about how the appeal was handled you could take legal action.

Get legal advice first.