Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 November 2018
207. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49844/18]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP for this lady on 18 May 2018. Her claim was disallowed on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on 14 June 2018 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The lady concerned subsequently appealed the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) and submitted further medical evidence in support of her appeal. Where additional medical evidence is submitted in support of an appeal, this evidence is reviewed by a deciding officer to see if it warrants a revised decision before a case is referred to the SWAO. If it is decided that the person concerned satisfies the conditions for IP as a result of the review, IP is awarded and the request for appeal is withdrawn. If the decision is unchanged following this review, the file is sent to the SWAO for further determination by an Appeals Officer.
Unfortunately, the further medical evidence submitted in support of the appeal in this case was not brought to the attention of the deciding officer until 28 November 2018. The lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 24 May 2018. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 13 December 2018. Arrears due from 24 May 2018 to 12 December 2018 less overlapping social welfare payment will issue in due course. The lady was notified of this decision on the 28 November 2018 and the Department has contacted directly her to apologise for the undue delay.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
