Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 October 2012
144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for delay in awarding disability allowance or invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42549/12]
View answerThe person concerned applied for disability allowance on 4 April 2011. The medical evidence supplied with his claim was referred to one of the Department’s medical assessors who was of the opinion, based on the information supplied, that the person was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and the claim was refused and the person was notified in writing of this decision on 19 September 2011.
The person submitted further medical evidence which was referred to a second medical assessor who was also of the opinion that the person was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and there was no change to the decision to refuse disability allowance and the person was notified of this on 20 February 2012.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the person appealed this decision on 12 March 2012 and submitted further medical evidence in support of the appeal. The Department was notified of this appeal on 10 April 2012.
As part of the appeals process, the Department referred all the medical evidence received including the evidence received by the Appeals office to a third medical assessor for review. The medical assessor was of the opinion, based on all the information supplied, that the person was medically suitable for disability allowance.
A decision on the person’s application has been made on 3rd October, awarding him from the 6th April 2011, a notification has issued to the person concerned.
