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Social Welfare Appeals

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 October 2011

Wednesday, 19 October 2011

Questions (60, 61)

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

59 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal regarding illness benefit payment will be decided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30189/11]

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Written answers

Payment of illness benefit to the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the relevant documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer's comments on the grounds of the appeal. In that context, an examination by another Medical Assessor will be carried out on 10 November 2011. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Tom Hayes

Question:

60 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a disablement benefit appeal will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30225/11]

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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case. There has been a very significant increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2007 when the intake was 14,070 to 2010 when the intake rose to 32,432. This has significantly impacted on the processing time for appeals which require oral hearings and, in order to be fair to all appellants, they are dealt with in strict chronological order. In the context of dealing with the considerable number of appeals now on hand, the Department made 9 additional appointments to the office earlier this year. While every effort is being made to deal with the large numbers awaiting oral hearing as quickly as possible, it is not possible to give a date when the person's oral hearing will be heard, but s/he will be informed when arrangements have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

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