Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 February 2014
122. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who has been diagnosed with a long-term illness which causes them to undergo bone marrow transplants and will never work again, has been denied entitlement to an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8493/14]
View answerInvalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions.
This department received a claim for invalidity pension for the person concerned on 19 November 2013. Based upon the medical evidence supplied in support of her claim, a deciding officer decided that the person concerned is not eligible for invalidity pension as she does not satisfy the medical criteria. The application for invalidity pension was, accordingly, disallowed. The applicant was notified on 30 January 2014 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right to seek a review or appeal.
To date no further correspondence has been received from the person concerned. In light of the specific circumstances of this case, the medical eligibility is being reviewed by a deciding officer and the person in question will be notified directly of the outcome. If this process results in no change of the deciding officer’s opinion it is still open to the person in question to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
