Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 February 2017
314. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the current delay in files being sent from the carer's allowance section to the appeals office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5715/17]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment made to carers who are providing full-time care and attention to someone who has a disability such that they require that level of care. Where a person is not satisfied with the decision made on their entitlement to CA, they can appeal that decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
In recent years, the increasing rate of applications for CA applications has seen a corresponding increase in the number of appeals to the SWAO. The department received 22,722 applications for CA in 2016. In the same year the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office received 3,887 appeals in respect of CA.
When the Social Welfare Appeals Office receives a request for an appeal, the case is first referred back to the department for review. This review may involve the consideration of further information provided by the applicant, which was not available to the deciding officer when making their original decision.
In 2016 there were 815 decisions revised by deciding officers in CA section following such a request from the SWAO. In cases where the review does not result in a revised decision by the deciding officer, a submission is prepared for the SWAO.
Some delays in processing submission occurred last year due to the high volume of claims received and processed. Additional resources have been assigned to the CA section to help improve the processing of appeals submissions for the SWAO. The position is being closely monitored and kept under review by the Department to ensure that appeal submissions are dealt with promptly.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
