Survey Feedback: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) Patients' Experience Accessing Welfare Payments in Ireland

 

“My experience of the welfare system was an extremely distressing and degrading experience with a long-lasting impact on my physical and mental health.”

“We, patients, must weigh up whether the application process or work will have a lesser negative effect on our health.”

“It's an absolutely demeaning process to go through such applications and constantly try and prove symptoms etc, especially when there are very few doctors who will back up the illness and also its awful that people with little energy on a daily basis anyway have to spend weeks or months trying to complete the application forms.”

“At no point was I told my illness benefit was going to expire and there would be this absurd gap without money, and I would need to start over when applying for Invalidity Pension.”

“Felt like that [quitting] was the aim of very cumbersome process to frustrate and exasperate applicant. I felt really angry and used this to push through and appeal [Invalidity Pension].”

Survey Feedback

Survey Feedback of one of our surveys held during ME Awareness Month 2023, i.e. ‘Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) Patients' Experience Accessing Welfare Payments in Ireland’.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey., your feedback is very much appreciated.

Please see the survey feedback, our comments and advice via the following link

Survey

We have reopened the social welfare related survey for a short time for anyone who has not already participated who may now wish to take part, link here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S668566

Disclaimer: The information in this post is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the post or the information, products, services, etc contained in the post for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. The suitability of any solution is totally dependent on the individual. It is strongly recommended to seek professional advice and assistance in some instances.