You can appeal to the National Appeals Service if you have a decision letter for certain schemes, services and allowances.
If you believe the decision is incorrect, you might decide to appeal.
What we mean by decision letter
You get a decision letter if you apply for a HSE scheme, allowance or service.
It will say if your application was successful or not and if you have the option to appeal the decision.
You also get a decision letter when your details are reviewed to check if you still qualify for a scheme, allowance or service. This is called a review of eligibility.
Ways to appeal
You can write a letter or email.
Schemes, services and allowances you can appeal
The schemes, services and allowances you can appeal through the National Appeals Service are the:
- Medical Card Scheme (including GP visit card)
- GP visit card for age 8 to 69
- Fair Deal Scheme (Nursing Home Support Scheme)
- Blind Welfare Allowance
- Mobility Allowance
- Long Stay Contribution (Residential Support Services Maintenance and Accommodation Contribution)
- Cross Border Directive Scheme
- Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme
- Treatment Abroad Scheme
- Endometriosis Surgery Abroad Interim Scheme
If you want to appeal something else
If you want to appeal a decision that is not on this list, check your decision letter. You could also contact that service to ask about the next steps if you are unhappy with the decision.
There is a separate appeals process for assessment of need appeals.
Don't
-
do not appeal if you did not apply to a scheme, service or allowance covered by the National Appeals Service
-
do not appeal if a decision has not yet been made on an application or review of eligibility
Deadline for appeals
The time limit to appeal a decision depends on the scheme, service or allowance.
The time starts on the date of the decision letter.
Appeal time limits by scheme:
- Medical Card Scheme (including GP visit card) - 28 days
- GP visit card for age 8 to 69 - 28 days
- Fair Deal Scheme (Nursing Home Support Scheme) - 40 working days
- Blind Welfare Allowance - 21 days
- Mobility Allowance - 21 days
- Long Stay Contribution (Residential Support Services Maintenance and Accommodation Contribution) - 4 weeks
- Cross Border Directive Scheme - 3 months
- Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme - 3 months
- Treatment Abroad Scheme - 3 months
- Endometriosis Surgery Abroad Interim Scheme - 3 months
Usually the time limit is on the decision letter.
If you need more time to appeal
It is not possible to extend the time limit for a Fair Deal Scheme appeal.
But in some cases the head of the National Appeals Service may extend the time limit. Contact the National Appeals Service to ask about this.
Help and advice
Contact us by email, phone or post to ask questions or get advice. For example, if you need help with making an appeal, or if you're not sure if you can appeal.
Email: nationalappeals@hse.ie
Phone: 071 982 2124
Phone: 071 982 2125
Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 1pm
HSE National Appeals Service,
An Clochar, Health Campus,
College Street,
Ballyshannon,
County Donegal,
F94 TPX4
What to include in your appeal
You need to include your grounds (reasons) for appeal. Give a clear explanation of why you believe the decision is not correct.
You could tell us why you believe:
- you are eligible for the scheme, service or allowance you applied for
- the information in your application was not assessed correctly
- you are exempt from (do not need to have) a financial means assessment
- your circumstances or medical needs could help your application
You can send us any information that you feel may support your grounds for appeal.
It helps us if you include the:
- application, reference or Client ID number from your decision letter
- name of the HSE scheme, allowance or service you applied for
Personal information
We need the name, address, date of birth and PPS number of the person the appeal is for.
If you are appealing for someone else you need to give us your name and address.
How we collect, use and hold your personal information
Where to send your appeal
You can write a letter.
You can send your letter by email or post.
Email: nationalappeals@hse.ie
HSE National Appeals Service,
An Clochar, Health Campus,
College Street,
Ballyshannon,
County Donegal,
F94 TPX4
Appeals process
We contact you to tell you we have received your appeal and we record it on our system.
The National Appeals Service sends a copy of your appeal to the relevant HSE section and asks them to send us your file.
Sometimes we may be able to resolve your appeal in another way. For example, we may send it to the scheme or service and ask to reassess or review your application. We will tell you about this decision. If you are not happy with the reassessment or review decision you may then appeal.
How an appeal officer reviews an appeal
Appeals are reviewed by appeal officers who work in the National Appeals Service. They are independent and were not involved in the decision.
After getting your file from the relevant HSE section, they may contact you for more information. They might also contact the Department of Social Protection to confirm information.
The appeals officer reviews all the information and makes a decision.
Appeal officer's decision
The appeals officer will write to you when they have made a decision.
They do not give decisions over the phone.
They will send a copy of the appeal decision to the relevant HSE section.
If you are not happy with the appeals officer's decision, you can make a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman.
You have a right to appeal a Fair Deal Scheme appeal decision to the High Court on a point of law.
How to complain to a public service provider - ombudsman.ie
Complaints and feedback
You may want to give feedback on your experience of applying to a scheme, service or allowance. You can also give feedback about appeals.
There are many ways to give feedback.