I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 353 together.
The processing times of individual invalidity pension claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the qualifying criteria. In addition, factors outside the Department’s control can have an impact, for example, insufficient information received from claimants at time of application and delays in claimants furnishing the information requested.
At present, approximately 220 new invalidity pension claims are received in the Department each week and these are examined within a short time after receipt. Where a medical assessment and/or further information are required, these are requested without delay.
Additional temporary staff was assigned to the invalidity pension area in an effort to deal with backlog which has been reducing steadily since June 2012. The number of invalidity pension claims awaiting action and decision at the end of May 2012 was 7007 – this has reduced to 4561 at the end of October 2012 and presently all of these claim have been actioned by my department and are awaiting further information from the customers or a Medical Assessment. It should also be noted that this number includes approximately 800 claims which are being assessed under EU and/or bi-lateral arrangements and that such claims are more complex and take longer to decide. Once all the necessary information is received, the claim will be processed promptly usually within two weeks
Any person making an enquiry concerning the progress of their claim is given the most up to date status of their claim and the next steps to be taken.