Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2013
346. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for invalidity pension that are currently waiting to be processed; the timescale for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2556/13]
View answerAt present, approximately 220 new invalidity pension claims are received in the Department each week and these are examined and decided where all information is available within a few days of 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 the backlog and it 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 to 3662 at the end of December 2012.
Presently all of these claims 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 900 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.
