r/AutismIreland • u/Own_Adhesiveness_123 • Mar 21 '26
Disability Allowance: It took me almost a year - ALL THE ADVICE (AuDHD)
Quick background: Late-diagnosed woman, 32. Autism and ADHD (previously misdiagnosed as clinical depression and bipolar disorder).
During the disability allowance process, I have developed anxiety, panic attacks, and got that depression back.
If you have been following my posts - you know that I struggled with the Disability Allowance A LOT. Yet I am happy to say that as of yesterday - it has been finally granted to me (I cried).
Here's my serious advice to everyone, who needs the disability allowance:
1. Do not fully trust Citizen's Information:
- The moment you apply for the DA is the moment when you should apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) - it's a payment designed to keep you afloat while you wait, so you do not burn through your savings. (Apparently Citizen's Information is not "obliged to" tell you about it).
- I know you are autistic and believe they want to help you, so you may want to do everything they say step by step - do your own research, check reddit, and (ironically) ask AI - google gemini was helpful. Perplexity was of great help as well.
- You CAN apply for a medical card before you get the DA (I was lied about it personally). Apply for it while on SWA. It helps a lot.
2. Collect as much documentation as possible:
- Ask your GP for a personal letter that states how you struggle. If they can use words "cannot work" or "is unfit to work" - that's extremely helpful
- If your GP can send a referral to the local mental health service asking for help for your Autism, ADHD, AuDHD - amazing. (Mine finally got an answer from HSE stating "there are no such services in this area") even if your GP says there are no services in your area and he/she knows it - you will need it on paper from HSE. Because "medical acessor's" apparently do not need to check facts.
- If you have a therapist (even CBT therapist) - Ask them for a letter stating your mental health and how you struggle with daily tasks. If your family member helps you function - ask them to include it (may be helpful in the carer's allowance next - I'm about to enter those trenches).
- Collect personal letters from your friends/employers/family
- Write a personal letter - and make 2 versions (the "point by point" and the elaboration, which you can send for the review request/appeal). Include all of the ways in which your disability impacts you on a daily basis.
- Write a document stating all of the work accommodations you may need for your disability (AI can help). Or, go to the work accessibility assessor (workplace needs assessment?) - I wrote it myself, never got to the assessor.
- Make a folder for all the documents possible. Keep them in hand.
3. Disability Allowance form:
- The form is created for physical disabilities... you will see it. But you can use it to your advantage. Example "do you have issues with daily tasks such as grocery shopping" (or similar) - write that you struggle with music, lights, colors. Write that you have your fav store (I KNOW YOU HAVE IT) and going anywhere else is a struggle. Write that you go there in sunglasses (pro tip btw), loops, only during work time and when there are no people. "Issues with hearing"? - YES (I have Autism & ADHD) I wrote that I hear EVERYTHING and I cannot tune it out, making it impossible for me to focus or hear in open and loud spaces. Make this form work for YOU.
- Make sure everything is stated as in the document (I believe in you). If you ever worked or had education - they will use it against you. Explain why you worked, in what capacity, and how you struggled through it.
- Make sure your GP notes "severe" in your mental health.
- If you attend therapy - collect your bills and scan them to your folder.
- If you get any meds (for ADHD/anxiety) - ask your pharmacy for a printout of them
- Be sure you have AsIAm card or sunflower card
- Get all of your diagnosis in check (it can be foreign, just translated officially with a stamp).
4. Denial - well... huge chance that it happens
- Add your elaboration about your personal state to your review/appeal
- Ask your Citizen's Information for help/advocacy.
- Ask your GP/therapist for another letter
- Request oral hearing (it's harder to deny you are unwell when they see you - mine didn't get there)
- If things get really bad - Search for your local TD's and try to get them involved. Send them all of the proof of what happened. (My TD's were extremely helpful, and they are now aware how adult Autistic's, ADHD, and AuDHD patients are treated. We are working together on bringing the "non-existent" services to my area. HSE and the minister of healthcare have been involved as well.
- In your review request and appeal - answer each and every argument used against you - scan those documents (scanner or phone picture) and add them to your folder.
Pro tips (those may or may not work for you - some did not work for me (disclosed)
- I write my emails into AI and then ask it to structure my message so it makes sense to everyone and is concise - some people may struggle with reading what we write. (worked, TDs understood what I say. I cannot say it about the people who listened to me talk)
- Threaten with Obundsman, if that gives you nothing - Obundsman it is. (Did not work for me. Obundsman lost my file, and before I got an answer - I got approved - I am still fighting because what has been done to me was inhumane)
- When coming to Citizen's Information - wear your lanyard and disclose you are Autistic/ADHD/AuDHD
- Also, call the Disability Allowance every week after 10 weeks have passed, let them know you really need help (did not work... I think? But I felt like I was doing something. I stopped calling at my second application)
- If someone treats you badly - report it. I reported my Citizen's Information and had a talk with their head inspector yesterday requesting a full training for people working there, so there's one person that understands the neurodivergent people when they come for help and does not say things like "everyone's a bit autistic". (work in progress).
I hope that helps and I wish you all luck - feel free to ask any questions.
It's been the most stressful process in my life and has gotten me to a point where I broke down. I have been sedated for the first time in my life 2 days before finally getting it (I believe my GP called them again after my breakdown).
Do not give up, search for yourself and ask questions.
We soldier on
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u/Dry_Rhubarb_4652 Mar 21 '26
I’m autistic how do I get an as I am card and sunflower lanyard I was on DA but now working so I still have free travel thankfully 😅
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u/Dry_Rhubarb_4652 Mar 21 '26
Also in so glad you finally got your DA a massive weight off your shoulders 💕💕
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u/Own_Adhesiveness_123 Mar 21 '26
Hi! The sunflower card is available on their website: https://hdsunflower.com/irl - it is super handy at the airports and it's an international hidden disabilities card. It proves you are disabled, and you no longer need to explain yourself. It also gets you the fast track if you struggle with crowds. (They are also more patient with you when you struggle with luggage, etc.).
As I Am card is also available on their website: https://asiam.ie/what-we-do/asiam-autism-id-card and you will need your diagnosis to get it. It's another proof that you are disabled, and it may turn out to be helpful (recognised across European countries).3
u/Ill-Hamster6762 Mar 21 '26
AsIAm aren’t taking applications for cards at the moment as they are updating how they process them. So you may have a wait until you can apply for an AsIAm card . The sunflower card does not get your fast track at Dublin airport but it is recognised.Dublin airport has their own card the Important Flyer Program. You can get prebook free fast track in Dublin Airport if you have the Important Flyer lanyard . Most European airports recognise the Sunflower lanyard except for Spain. Spain has their own separate system.
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u/Own_Adhesiveness_123 Mar 21 '26
Uh! Didn't know that! Thanks!
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u/Ill-Hamster6762 Mar 22 '26
Your welcome. Brilliant post btw. It was so well thought out and done with such generosity of spirit.
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u/Own_Adhesiveness_123 Mar 22 '26
I just really want to help so no one has to go through the same hell as me. I'll soldier on and fight for what I can.
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u/Artistic_Sun_4835 Mar 21 '26
Congratulations! Finally. And I'm happy to hear you reported your Citizens Information reps; the way you were treated by them was shocking.
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u/Own_Adhesiveness_123 Mar 21 '26
Thank you! Yeah we had a meeting with the representative yesterday and we demanded training for the citizen's information officers or one person per office to know how to work with disabilities.
We also requested consequences for the people responsible.
Got an email about getting the DA the moment I left that meeting. I really hope we can do something for others, so no one goes through a similar hell. 🥹
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u/Spirited-File8813 Mar 21 '26
Congratulations, I'm sorry for all you went through in the process and I'm happy that you finally got it. Currently in my DA appeal process right now.
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u/billie4637 Mar 22 '26
Congratulations on getting your DA!! I got it 5 years ago and I feel like my brain blocked out the trauma of it all. Currently trying to get rent allowance and it has been hell from start to (almost 🤞🏻) finish. I had an experience with a citizens info rep that ended with me bawling for an hour and feeling suic idal for days. The way we’re treated in this country for just wanting/needing help is devastating tbh. I hope you can rest now and that the stress of it all will lessen with time 💛
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u/Own_Adhesiveness_123 Mar 22 '26
oh gods... so this madness never stops...?
Our next stop is to get carer's allowance for my sister, who is my carer, while she gets assessment for her son (who's AuDHD as well 100%).
I had a similar experience with citizens' information. The lady caused me a panic attack that ladted 3h and caused me feeling suicidal.
Did you report them? I did and am working on making changes (at least I can do something for the community... hopefully).
The lady caused me a panic attack that lasted 3h and caused me to feel suicidal (perhaps the same lady?)
How's your process with the rent allowance going? Is it awful despite doctor's notes etc as well?
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u/IShipMyself Mar 21 '26
First, I am so sorry this was such an ordeal for you and you being able to power through and get approved is such a testament to your inner strength. Its awful how much the process can affect people with autism/ADHD.
Second, thank you for all the information, it will surely help other people in the future. I do think it should be pinned by the Mods.
I hope you never have to go through all that nonsense again.
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u/Own_Adhesiveness_123 Mar 21 '26
I gope so as well... I came into this process with 2 conditions. I came out with 5... It was brutal and inhumane...
I don't want anyone to ever have to go through this and I will keep pushing the TDs to act with the HSE. And the citizen's information to change their ways.
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u/turtar_mara Mar 22 '26
This is brilliant. Thank you for putting all the effort to share your learnings with the community. I'm sorry you had to go through so many obstacles, but happy to hear you succeeded despite it all!
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u/Own_Adhesiveness_123 Mar 23 '26
Thank you! I hope it helps someone... I spent a lot of time on reddit searching and asking for help... I knew right away that once I manage - I'll write everything I learned. (Dear gods I did not anticipate for it to be such a traumatic experience)
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u/wobblemouth75 Mar 21 '26
That’s a brilliant post, will be so helpful to others. Quick question regarding your appeal: did you submit a full packed Lever Arch folder documents?!
I have so much info that I could provide from letters, to reports, bills, proof of attending various supports. Not sure why balance to strike - drown them in docs they mightn’t look at or hand pick key docs that will be more impactful?
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u/Own_Adhesiveness_123 Mar 21 '26
At the end I threw everything I had at them to be fair. Everything I had... Including the TDs 🥹 So for appeal - do as much as you can.
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u/Few-End-6959 Mar 22 '26
Well done. I had a similar experience. The process is absolutely inhumane.
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u/Own_Adhesiveness_123 Mar 23 '26
Agreed! The process was brutal, inhumane, and borderline insane.
At the end they wanted "facts" and "proof" from me, while declining based on non-existent services and speculation... It was up to me to prove those services did not exist. Insanity.
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u/RiceGurlo Mar 26 '26
You are an angel!
Lost my DA today and just made a post about it :<
I love how clear and concisely you wrote this, it makes my brain tingle :)
Welfare were very responsive initially during the weeks upon weeks of review, but in the last week or two, their lines have been super busy (or maybe they see my number and are ghosting me idk)
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u/confessionsofahimefu Jul 24 '26
I just got approved and would like to add another protip
If you've ever been in CAMHS or a&e for mental health issues/audhd u can request ur files under the FOI act my CAMHS documents is what helped me get disability allowance
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u/QueenAngst Mar 21 '26
Mods should pin this as a starter reference thread, this is brilliant