There is a range of benefits and entitlements you may qualify for if your child has a disability. These entitlements and benefits are there to support you as a family and to help maximise your child's potential.
The Citizen's Information Website provides information on these entitlements and benefits, as well as advice on how to access them, and details of the criteria that need to be met to qualify for each scheme.
Some of the main areas that you may have entitlements in are as follows:
- Health
- Education
- Social Supports
- Tax
- Housing
- Assessment of need
You can find out about your entitlements by:
- visiting the Citizen's Information Website,
- phoning the Citizens Information Phone Service. Lo-Call 1890 777 121, Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm
- In person by calling to a Citizens Information Centre near you
You can also directly contact the agencies responsible for providing the services, benefits and entitlements. Click here for further details on the agencies to contact.
We have provided some links below to areas on the Citizen's Information Board website that may be relevant to you. There is a lot of information on this website that relates to supports available throughout the lives of people with disabilities - so don't worry if it seems like there is a lot of information to take in. If your child has just been diagnosed with a disability much of this information will not be relevant at this time, and may not be applicable to your situation.
A new booklet has recently been launched detailing the entitlements and benefits available to the families of children with disabilities: http://www.citizensinformationboard.ie/publications/providers/booklets/
Some useful pages:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/health/children-s-health/caring-for-a-child-with-a-disability
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/education/the-irish-education-system/special_education
If your child has not been diagnosed with a disability but you feel that he or she may have a disability you can apply for an assessment of need. You can get the application from from your Local Health Office.
Click here for further details on the Assessment of Need process.