The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on the 23rd October 2023.
Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. I am advised that the person concerned subsequently submitted additional evidence and the appeal was assigned to another Appeals Officer to review the appeal on foot of this additional evidence. That Appeals Officer did not find any new facts or evidence which warranted a revision of the earlier decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 4th January 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.