Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
644 Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 94 of 14 March 2012, if he will confirm that an appeal for carers allowance was successful in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; the reason the appeals office is now seeking to review the matter; and will she ensure that the payment is backdated in full to the time when the application was originally received by her Department. [19013/12]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence, including that adduced at oral hearing, partially allowed the appeal of the person concerned. In this case, the appeal of the person concerned in regard to the requirement for, and the provision of, full-time care and attention, for the purpose of entitlement to carer's allowance in respect of her mother, was allowed with effect from the date of the oral appeal hearing in this case, i.e. 27th October 2011. In arriving at this decision, the Appeals Officer has taken regard of all the available medical and other evidence, including that arising from the visit of a Social Welfare Inspector to the home of the care recipient on 9th May 2011. During this visit it was confirmed that the care recipient remained capable of driving her own car at that time.
An Appeals Officers decision may be revised in light of new evidence or new facts in a particular case. Having reviewed all further correspondence and contentions received in this case, the Appeals Officer concludes, however, that a revision of his original decision to allow the appeal with effect from the date of the oral hearing is not warranted.
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.
