Are we entitled to any allowances or help for children with ADHD/ADD?
Are we entitled to any allowances or help for children with ADHD/ADD?
As a parent/carer of a child with ADHD/ADD you may not be aware that there are entitlements and benefits offered by the Department of Social Welfare. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for some of these special allowances listed below. We recommend that you apply and use the process of appeal if you are turned down. You should include all information about your child when applying, such as doctor’s reports, hospital records, educational and clinical reports and ask for a letter of support from whoever is seeing your child. It is advisable to photocopy your application when applying attaching copies of all information you think will help with the application. These things take time, but in general, the relevant Department will respond to your application in due course.
Domiciliary Care Allowance
This allowance is paid to parents of a child with a disability which results in the need for greater care, special care and attention to that normally required by a child of the same age. Applications for Domiciliary Care are available at any Health Centre . This allowance is paid monthly and is approximately €281.00. Members of our Support Group have reported back to us of their successful applications as parents of children with ADHD/ADD. Some members have reported being turned down and we advise to appeal and if necessary to re-apply. The Domiciliary Allowance applies to children up to the age of sixteen.
Disability Allowance
This Allowance is paid to a person with a disability over the age of sixteen. If you are in receipt of the Domiciliary Allowance and your child reaches his/her sixteenth birthday, the Department of Social Welfare, Disability Section will automatically send you an application for this benefit. This benefit is paid weekly, usually by bank transfer to the account of the person with the disability. It is approximately €185.00 per week. If your child was not in receipt of the Domiciliary Allowance up to the age of sixteen, he/she can apply for this allowance in their own name. Any new or fresh application should be accompanied with all the relevant documentation such as reports from consultants, doctor’s reports, clinical and educational psychologist’s reports. The person with ADHD/ADD receiving this allowance must notify the Department of Social Welfare should they gain employment on a temporary, part-time, fulltime or permanent basis. The Department will adjust the payment in relation to other earnings.
Respite Care Grant
Those in receipt of the Domiciliary Care Allowance usually qualify for the Respite Care Grant. This grant is €1,500 and is paid out in the June/July on an annual basis. Again we advise you contact the Department of Social Welfare for enquiries on any of the above allowances for your family.Contact The Department of Social & Community Affairs at:
Tel: 043 45211 or www.welfare.ie
