Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 January 2014
369. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in dealing with an appeal in relation to refusal of illness benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [2753/14]
View answerPayment 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 she was capable of work. An appeal was registered on 15 October 2013 and in the context of that appeal she was examined by a second Medical Assessor on 29 November 2013 who also expressed the decision that she was capable of work.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that in light of the second capable opinion it was decided to afford the person concerned an opportunity of setting out her complete and up to date grounds of her appeal and to furnish any further medical evidence that she wished to submit in support of her appeal.
The grounds of appeal were received on 7 January 2014 and at this stage and in accordance with statutory requirements the Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal have been sought. When these have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.
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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
