The Social Welfare Appeals Office deals with about 14,000 appeals on an annual basis. On 30 September 2006 there were 5,565 appeals awaiting decision. A breakdown of these cases follows (Table A). A breakdown of average processing times for each scheme, based on 2005 figures, also follows (Table B). Figures regarding the longest time it takes to process an appeal for each scheme of my Department are not maintained. On 16 October 2006 there were 1,970 cases awaiting an oral hearing of which 400 have been scheduled.
The average length of time to deal with all appeals (i.e. those decided summarily and by way of an oral hearing) in 2005 was 20 weeks. If allowance is made for the 25% most protracted cases, the average time falls to 13 weeks. Oral hearings are granted at the discretion of the Appeals Officer usually in circumstances where there is a conflict in evidence presented by both parties or where an oral hearing is required by the appellant in order to present his or her case. Given the logistics involved in organising oral hearings, the average length of time is increased by 8 weeks where an oral hearing is involved.
The processing time for appeals covers all phases of the appeal process including the submission by my Department of its comments on the grounds for the appeal, further examinations by the Department's Medical Assessors in certain sickness related cases and the holding of oral hearings which are currently afforded in two out of every three cases determined by Appeals Officers. Circumstances may arise, normally outside of the control of the Social Welfare Appeals Office, which have the effect of unduly prolonging the time taken to process appeals. For example, delays can occur where the appellant submits new information or evidence, often at an advanced stage in the proceedings. In some cases adjournments may be sought by the Appellant or his/her representative.
The social welfare appeals system is a quasi-judicial one and the procedures involved are designed to ensure that every appellant's case gets full and satisfactory consideration.
While improving processing times remains a major objective of the Social Welfare Appeals Office, it is necessary at all times to ensure that progress in this regard is achieved in a manner which is not in conflict with the demands of justice and the requirement that every appeal be fully investigated and examined on all its merits.
Table A
|
Number of Appeals awaiting decision at 30 September 2006.
|
|
Scheme Type
|
Numbers
|
|
Blind Pension
|
5
|
|
Carers Allowance
|
367
|
|
Carers Benefit
|
3
|
|
Child Benefit
|
86
|
|
Disability Allowance
|
1,048
|
|
Disability Benefit
|
1,039
|
|
Deserted Wives Allowance
|
5
|
|
Deserted Wives Benefit
|
11
|
|
Employers PRSI Exemption
|
1
|
|
Farm Assist
|
40
|
|
Bereavement Grant
|
8
|
|
Family Income Supplement
|
33
|
|
Home Maker
|
1
|
|
Invalidity Pension
|
279
|
|
Lone Parents
|
16
|
|
Liable Relative
|
3
|
|
Maternity Benefit
|
7
|
|
Old Age Contributory Pension
|
94
|
|
Old Age Non-Contributory Pension
|
152
|
|
Occupational Injury Benefit
|
29
|
|
Disablement Benefit
|
212
|
|
Occupational Injury Medical
|
23
|
|
Orphans Contributory Pension
|
3
|
|
One Parent Family Payment
|
493
|
|
Orphans Non-Contributory Pension
|
3
|
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance
|
9
|
|
Unemployment Assistance (Means)
|
348
|
|
Rent Allowance
|
1
|
|
Respite Care Grant
|
99
|
|
Retirement Pension
|
17
|
|
SCOPE (Insurability of Employment)
|
74
|
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
|
55
|
|
Treatment Benefit
|
16
|
|
Unemployment Assistance
|
653
|
|
Unemployment Payments Overpayments
|
37
|
|
Unemployment Benefit
|
272
|
|
Unemployability Supplement
|
4
|
|
Widows Contributory Pension
|
6
|
|
Widows Non-Contributory Pension
|
13
|
|
Total
|
5,565
|
Table B
|
Average Processing Time of Appeals Disposed of in 2005.
|
|
Scheme Type
|
Number of Weeks
|
|
Adoptive Benefit
|
23.8
|
|
Blind Pension
|
26.0
|
|
Carers Allowance
|
21.2
|
|
Carers Benefit
|
29.8
|
|
Child Benefit
|
18.4
|
|
Disability Allowance
|
21.6
|
|
Disability Benefit
|
24.0
|
|
Deserted Wives Allowance
|
33.1
|
|
Deserted Wives Benefit
|
22.8
|
|
Farm Assist
|
22.0
|
|
Bereavement Grant
|
19.8
|
|
Family Income Supplement
|
17.9
|
|
Invalidity Pension
|
24.9
|
|
Lone Parents
|
33.6
|
|
Liable Relative
|
71.5
|
|
Maternity Benefit
|
19.9
|
|
Old Age Contributory Pension
|
46.1
|
|
Old Age Non-Contributory Pension
|
22.7
|
|
Occupational Injury Benefit
|
26.2
|
|
Disablement Benefit
|
27.6
|
|
Occupational Injury Medical
|
34.7
|
|
Orphans Contributory Pension
|
16.5
|
|
One Parent Family Payment
|
31.3
|
|
Orphans Non-Contributory Pension
|
33.3
|
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance
|
19.3
|
|
Unemployment Assistance (Means)
|
18.9
|
|
Respite Care Grant
|
10.0
|
|
Retirement Pension
|
24.4
|
|
SCOPE (Insurability of Employment)
|
34.1
|
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
|
12.2
|
|
Treatment Benefit
|
10.6
|
|
Unemployment Assistance
|
10.6
|
|
Unemployment Payments Overpayments
|
22.7
|
|
Unemployment Benefit
|
12.6
|
|
Unemployability Supplement
|
23.4
|
|
Widows Contributory Pension
|
39.1
|
|
Widows Non-Contributory Pension
|
28.1
|
|
Widowed Parent Grant
|
62.8
|
|
Average Time to Process All Appeals
|
20.2
|
