The continued entitlement to unemployment benefit of the person concerned was reviewed on 21 May 2002 when she was requested to provide details of her efforts to find full-time employment. In the light of the details provided, the deciding officer concluded that she had failed to show that she was genuinely seeking full-time work and disallowed her claim accordingly from 6 June 2002.
She appealed this decision to the social welfare appeals office in July 2002 and an oral hearing of her appeal was held on 8 October 2002. Having considered all of the available evidence, including that adduced at the oral hearing, the appeals officer was not satisfied that the person was genuinely seeking full-time employment and disallowed her appeal. The person was notified of the decision of the appeals officer on 18 October 2002. It is open to the person to submit new evidence to the appeals officer for consideration.
The letters which were submitted by the person in response to the Department's request for evidence that she was seeking full-time employment will be returned to her shortly. Under social welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.