The person concerned claimed disability benefit from March 1989. In July 1990, payment was disallowed following examination by a medical referee. Subsequently there were further medical examinations, including an independent medical consultant examination which was arranged by the independent social welfare appeals office at the request of the chief appeals officer.
On receipt of the consultant's report, an appeals officer's decision, made in November 1990, which confirmed the original disallowance, was reversed. Both appeals hearings were oral, that is, the person was given the opportunity to state his case directly to the appeals officer.
The new appeals decision meant that benefit was restored with effect from July 1990.
Following the favourable outcome of the second appeal, the person concerned applied for invalidity pension. The Deputy made representations in support of this application. I wish to make it absolutely clear that the Deputy's representations did not adversely influence the subsequent course of events. The person concerned was called for a medical examination in connection with the invalidity pension application. A new aspect had to be considered, viz was the person likely to remain permanently incapable of work.
The medical referee indicated that the person concerned was not likely to remain incapable of work. His findings also indicated that the person was, in his opinion, fit for work. It was believed by the deciding officer that the medical examination, which occurred some time after the appeals hearing, should take precedence over the ruling in May.
Following receipt of the Deputy's question I have had the case re-examined. An appeals officer will be asked to review the latest findings to assess whether he might wish to revise his findings made in May of this year. I am glad to say that in the interim benefit will be restored.