Caranua is no longer accepting new applications from Survivors for financial supports however, if you have an open application with Caranua the following information will help you understand how the application process works.
Once your eligibility for support from Caranua has been established you can apply for services.
You will be assigned an Advisor to help with your application.
Your Advisor will:
- Get to know what you need by listening to you and ensuring that all your needs are considered
- Look at ways of meeting the needs we are not able to help with by making suggestions, linking you with other services where you live, and advocate on your behalf with public services so you can get what you are entitled to from them
- Help you to complete your application by dealing with public bodies on your behalf (like the council if you need housing support), working with you to get all the information we need, and making arrangements for professional assessments so you don’t have to do this yourself
- Let you know what has been approved and when and how you will get funding
What services are covered?
Caranua can provide funding for services that address your needs, in the areas of health, housing and education. In general, we will only fund services that are not readily available to you from public bodies. We are here to add to services that are already available, not to replace them.
How is my application assessed?
Your application will be assessed by your Advisor using the following checklist.
Services
- Are the services you want available within our guidelines.
- Are the services relevant and appropriate to your needs, taking account of your age, health and other circumstances, and likely impact on your quality of life and well-being?
- Are there professional recommendations to support the application – do they clearly set out a need and how the proposed service will meet that need?
- Are the treatment plans reasonable given your needs?
Costs
- Are quoted costs reasonable and in keeping with guide rates used by public bodies such as health services and local authorities?
- Is the service already available through a public provider such as a local authority, public education body or health service?
- Are the service providers qualified?
- In the case of housing works, is there evidence of ownership or tenancy and permission from a landlord for the proposed work?
- Are the costs within the guide limits?
Are the guide limits very strict? The limits for teeth and dental are €5,000 but I think I will need a lot of work done.
There is flexibility around the guide limits. However, the value of services approved cannot exceed €15,000 or £12,000 per applicant. Your Application Advisor will discuss this with you in greater detail.
I want to get household goods for my home, will Caranua help with this?
Household goods are available under the 2016 guidelines only. A limit of €2,000/£1,500 will apply, the Board of Caranua made a decision at their meeting on 26th February 2019 that you can avail of funding supports for household goods up to €5,000. The Board also made the decision that flexibility would not apply for household goods. As with all applications, if there is proven evidence of an exceptional need (e.g. housing provision after homelessness, extreme damage to the home) the application will be reviewed with flexibility in mind. You will be asked to provide proof of the exceptional need.
Does the Advisor make the final decision on my application?
When your Advisor has completed an assessment of your application, they will make a recommendation to the Director of Services.
How will I know if my application was approved?
Your Advisor will let you know what the decision is.
Does Caranua give priority if you have special circumstances?
Yes, in some instances Caranua will prioritise some applications, this is usually when applicants are over 70 or if we have been notified that someone is seriously ill. If you are very ill, please contact us with this information.
Questions on specific services
It would really help my well-being if I had a car to get around can I get funding?
We don’t provide funding for cars or other vehicles because they are not included in our guidelines. We can help with local travel by public transport.
My bank is going to put me out of my house because I owe money. Can I get help with this?
We cannot pay for housing costs like rent or mortgages, or debts as this is not allowed under our governing legislation.
I am waiting for a hospital appointment for a hip replacement for a long time. Can Caranua help with this?
We can find out how long it will be before you are seen and in some circumstances, we can pay for a consultation if this helps to speed things up but we do not ordinarily pay for private hospital treatment.
I’d like to paint my house and get a new cooker. Is this allowed?
If you applied after 1st June 2016, or if you have received services of less than €15,000 then you are eligible for these services.
What I really want is help with my heating bills. Why can’t I have this?
Heating is an ongoing cost so we are not able to pay for it. We only support the items that are listed in our Guidelines as discussed with your Advisor.
My son has a disability and I want to adapt my car so he can get in and out. Is this allowed?
We can only provide services to Survivors themselves. We can advise you on what might be available through your public health service.
What about getting a CCTV system?
We can fund an alarm for your home but not a CCTV system.
My house is old and the electrics are not good. Can you help with that?
Caranua can’t provide funding for electrical repairs.
I’m living in a house that needs a lot of work. Can Caranua do it up and make it possible for me to live there?
Caranua can only help with minor repairs and adaptations where these are necessary. We cannot support major repairs or renovations.
I’m finding it hard to get in and out of my bath, can I apply for a walk-in shower?
If this is recommended by a qualified professional and evidenced is provided we can consider it, subject to costs being reasonable and other conditions. Please discuss this with your advisor as a medical need.
What about heating? My house is very cold and it costs a lot to heat.
We can certainly consider improving, fixing or replacing your heating system to improve its efficiency. What we can do will depend on the problem and what the solution is to that problem, so the situation will need to be assessed first.
I’m attending a class in Dublin and I live in Tipperary. Will you pay travel costs?
We can only fund local travel.
I am looking at options of doing a part-time or long-distance course in college. Can Caranua support this?
Yes, Caranua can support part-time and long-distance courses, as well as full-time education courses.
I am looking to purchase a warranty for the fridge I purchased. Will Caranua pay for the warranty?
Following feedback from Survivors, we can pay for warranties for white goods, for example, fridges, dishwasher, washing machine, cooker, dryer (on the day of purchase).
A shop may ask if you’d like to purchase a warranty (or extended warranty) when you are buying a product from them. It is similar to an insurance policy and normally protects you from having to pay for repairs if the item you bought breaks or becomes faulty within the period covered by the warranty.
Further information on Warranties can be found on the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) website here: https://www.ccpc.ie/consumers/shopping/buying-goods/guarantees-and-warranties/
The CCPC is responsible for enforcing competition and consumer protection laws across the economy. To help consumers make informed decisions it also gives independent, unbiased information about consumer rights and personal finance products and service through its consumer helpline 1890 432 432 and consumer website www.consumerhelp.ie