The following tables provide details of all appeals registered by scheme and the outcome of all appeals finalised for the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019.
Appeals which had a favourable outcome for the appellant consist of appeals which were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer or which were resolved by way of a revised decision in favour of the appellant by a Deciding Officer / Designated Person.
There are a number of reasons why a decision which was refused at first instance might be successful on appeal and it is not necessarily the case that the first decision was incorrect. It is often the case that new evidence is provided with an appeal and that, as a result, the original decision may be revised by the Deciding Officer or Designated Person. This was the case in 37.6% of such successful outcomes in 2017, 31.5% of such outcomes in 2018 and 30.3% of such outcomes to the end of February 2019.
Where the decision was not revised by the Department in light of the appeal contentions, further evidence is often provided by the appellant as the appeal process proceeds and in addition, the Appeals Officer may gain insights when they meet the appellant in person at oral hearing which may influence the outcome of the appeal.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Appeals Received 2017–2019
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
(to 28/2/2019)
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
|
370
|
347
|
62
|
State Pension (Contributory)
|
408
|
309
|
52
|
State Pension (Transition)
|
3
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Widow’s, Widower’s Pension (Contributory)
|
45
|
38
|
1
|
Death Benefit
|
Nil
|
1
|
Nil
|
Bereavement Grant
|
1
|
1
|
Nil
|
Jobseeker's Allowance - Payments
|
1,676
|
1,570
|
254
|
Jobseeker’s Transitional
|
41
|
70
|
8
|
Jobseeker's Allowance - Means
|
1,504
|
1,380
|
202
|
One-Parent Family Payment
|
244
|
273
|
54
|
Widow / Widower’s Pension (Non-Contributory)
|
23
|
18
|
1
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance
|
1
|
1
|
Nil
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
|
1,302
|
859
|
144
|
Farm Assist
|
130
|
84
|
18
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance
|
2
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Jobseeker's Benefit
|
545
|
610
|
109
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit
|
7
|
8
|
1
|
Maternity Benefit
|
84
|
40
|
4
|
Paternity Benefit
|
16
|
14
|
1
|
Adoptive Benefit
|
2
|
1
|
Nil
|
Treatment Benefits
|
1
|
2
|
Nil
|
Partial Capacity Benefit
|
38
|
75
|
26
|
Disability Allowance
|
5,077
|
5,200
|
1,040
|
Blind Pension
|
19
|
12
|
1
|
Carer's Allowance
|
3,200
|
2,902
|
639
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance
|
1,199
|
1,432
|
258
|
Carer’s Support Grant
|
164
|
126
|
23
|
Illness Benefit
|
443
|
581
|
199
|
Injury Benefit
|
51
|
44
|
7
|
Invalidity Pension
|
1,381
|
1,387
|
355
|
Disablement Benefit
|
347
|
330
|
73
|
Incapacity Supplement
|
7
|
7
|
Nil
|
Medical Care
|
2
|
2
|
Nil
|
Carer's Benefit
|
110
|
162
|
40
|
Child Benefit
|
473
|
485
|
105
|
Working Family Payment*
|
477
|
290
|
219
|
Back To Work Family Dividend
|
43
|
43
|
6
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory)
|
16
|
8
|
2
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory)
|
34
|
22
|
1
|
Widowed Parent Grant
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
Insurability Of Employment
|
132
|
86
|
6
|
Liable Relative
|
9
|
4
|
1
|
Recoverable Benefits & Assistance
|
25
|
29
|
1
|
TOTAL – ALL APPEALS
|
19,658
|
18,854
|
3,914
|
* Previously called Family Income Supplement
Outcome of Appeals by Category 2017
|
Allowed
By Appeals Officers
|
Partially Allowed By Appeals Officers
|
Revised DO/DP Decision
|
Disallowed By
Appeals Officers
|
Withdrawn
|
Total
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
|
75
21.9%
|
34
9.9%
|
78
22.7%
|
128
37.3%
|
28
8.2%
|
343
|
State Pension (Contributory)
|
35
9.9%
|
12
3.4%
|
76
21.5%
|
218
61.6%
|
13
3.7%
|
354
|
State Pension (Transition)
|
1
33.3%
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
2
66.7%
|
Nil
|
3
|
Widow’s / Widower’s Pension (Contributory)
|
8
25.8%
|
Nil
|
7
22.6%
|
15
48.4%
|
1
3.2%
|
31
|
Death Benefit
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
1
100.0%
|
Nil
|
1
|
Bereavement Grant
|
1
100.0%
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
1
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance - Payments
|
349
22.2%
|
66
4.2%
|
309
19.6%
|
665
42.3%
|
184
11.7%
|
1,573
|
Jobseeker’s Transitional
|
10
27.0%
|
4
10.8%
|
10
27.0%
|
6
16.2%
|
7
18.9%
|
37
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance - Means
|
187
12.9%
|
82
5.6%
|
264
18.2%
|
708
48.7%
|
212
14.6%
|
1,453
|
One-Parent Family Payment
|
67
26.1%
|
19
7.4%
|
54
21.0%
|
67
26.1%
|
50
19.5%
|
257
|
Widow’s / Widower’s Pension (Non-Contributory)
|
7
30.4%
|
4
17.4%
|
3
13.0%
|
9
39.1%
|
Nil
|
23
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
|
304
22.5%
|
34
2.5%
|
229
17.0%
|
602
44.6%
|
180
13.3%
|
1,349
|
Farm Assist
|
22
15.5%
|
18
12.7%
|
28
19.7%
|
60
42.3%
|
14
9.9%
|
142
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
1
100.0%
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
1
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit
|
83
17.3%
|
21
4.4%
|
117
24.4%
|
206
43.0%
|
52
10.9%
|
479
|
Deserted Wife’s Benefit
|
2
40.0%
|
1
20.0%
|
Nil
|
2
40.0%
|
Nil
|
5
|
Maternity Benefit
|
10
14.1%
|
3
4.2%
|
8
11.3%
|
49
69.0%
|
1
1.4%
|
71
|
Paternity Benefit
|
1
12.5%
|
Nil
|
3
37.5%
|
3
37.5%
|
1
12.5%
|
8
|
Adoptive Benefit
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
2
100.0%
|
Nil
|
2
|
Treatment Benefits
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
1
100.0%
|
Nil
|
1
|
Partial Capacity Benefit
|
15
33.3%
|
1
2.2%
|
11
24.4%
|
14
31.1%
|
4
8.9%
|
45
|
Disability Allowance
|
2,975
60.3%
|
70
1.4%
|
563
11.4%
|
1,211
24.5%
|
115
2.3%
|
4,934
|
Blind Pension
|
1
6.7%
|
1
6.7%
|
3
20.0%
|
7
46.7%
|
3
20.0%
|
15
|
Carer’s Allowance
|
1,204
35.2%
|
161
4.7%
|
780
22.8%
|
1,199
35.1%
|
72
2.1%
|
3,416
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance
|
297
37.1%
|
10
1.2%
|
343
42.8%
|
135
16.9%
|
16
2.0%
|
801
|
Carer’s Support Grant
|
35
22.6%
|
2
1.3%
|
45
29.0%
|
72
46.5%
|
1
0.6%
|
155
|
Illness Benefit
|
118
23.0%
|
8
1.6%
|
140
27.2%
|
189
36.8%
|
59
11.5%
|
514
|
Injury Benefit
|
3
7.9%
|
Nil
|
2
5.3%
|
27
71.1%
|
6
15.8%
|
38
|
Invalidity Pension
|
365
27.1%
|
7
0.5%
|
691
51.3%
|
262
19.4%
|
23
1.7%
|
1,348
|
Disablement Benefit
|
86
34.4%
|
19
7.6%
|
30
12.0%
|
109
43.6%
|
6
2.4%
|
250
|
Incapacity Supplement
|
3
30.0%
|
1
10.0%
|
3
30.0%
|
3
30.0%
|
Nil
|
10
|
Medical Care
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
1
50.0%
|
1
50.0%
|
Nil
|
2
|
Carer’s Benefit
|
23
22.1%
|
2
1.9%
|
39
37.5%
|
37
35.6%
|
3
2.9%
|
104
|
Child Benefit
|
68
15.5%
|
23
5.3%
|
154
35.2%
|
178
40.6%
|
15
3.4%
|
438
|
Family Income Supplement
|
76
15.1%
|
15
3.0%
|
267
53.1%
|
130
25.8%
|
15
3.0%
|
503
|
Back To Work Family Dividend
|
7
17.1%
|
Nil
|
4
9.8%
|
25
61.0%
|
5
12.2%
|
41
|
Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)
|
5
33.3%
|
1
6.7%
|
2
13.3%
|
7
46.7%
|
Nil
|
15
|
Guardian’s Payment (Contributory)
|
13
39.4%
|
2
6.1%
|
4
12.1%
|
14
42.4%
|
Nil
|
33
|
Widowed Parent Grant
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
2
100.0%
|
Nil
|
2
|
Insurability
|
34
24.5%
|
4
2.9%
|
11
7.9%
|
37
26.6%
|
53
38.1%
|
139
|
Liable Relatives
|
Nil
|
4
23.5%
|
Nil
|
11
64.7%
|
2
11.8%
|
17
|
Recoverable Benefits & Assistance
|
3
11.5%
|
Nil
|
3
11.5%
|
20
76.9%
|
Nil
|
26
|
TOTAL APPEALS
|
6,493
34.2%
|
629
3.3%
|
4,283
22.6%
|
6,434
33.9%
|
1,141
6.0%
|
18,980
|
Outcome of Appeals by Category 2018
|
Allowed By Appeals Officers
|
Partially Allowed By Appeals Officers
|
Revised DO/DP Decision
|
Disallowed By Appeals Officers
|
Withdrawn
|
Total
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
|
85
23.4%
|
29
8.0%
|
70
19.3%
|
144
39.7%
|
35
9.6%
|
363
|
State Pension (Contributory)
|
35
9.5%
|
9
2.5%
|
64
17.4%
|
244
66.5%
|
15
4.1%
|
367
|
Widow’s / Widower’s Pension (Contributory)
|
18
45.0%
|
Nil
|
2
5.0%
|
14
35.0%
|
6
15.0%
|
40
|
Death Benefit
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
1
100.0%
|
Nil
|
1
|
Bereavement Grant
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
1
100.0%
|
Nil
|
1
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance - Payments
|
280
18.0%
|
99
6.4%
|
251
16.1%
|
785
50.4%
|
141
9.1%
|
1,556
|
Jobseeker’s Transitional
|
9
19.1%
|
5
10.6%
|
9
19.1%
|
18
38.3%
|
6
12.8%
|
47
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance - Means
|
150
10.4%
|
83
5.8%
|
194
13.5%
|
836
58.1%
|
176
12.2%
|
1,439
|
One-Parent Family Payment
|
47
20.4%
|
13
5.7%
|
46
20.0%
|
83
36.1%
|
41
17.8%
|
230
|
Widow’s/Widower’s Pension (Non-Contributory)
|
4
23.5%
|
2
11.8%
|
Nil
|
10
58.8%
|
1
5.9%
|
17
|
Deserted Wife’s Allowance
|
1
100.0%
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
1
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
|
258
24.6%
|
29
2.8%
|
179
17.1%
|
467
44.6%
|
114
10.9%
|
1,047
|
Farm Assist
|
14
11.7%
|
11
9.2%
|
18
15.0%
|
62
51.7%
|
15
12.5%
|
120
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance
|
1
50.0%
|
1
50.0%
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
2
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit
|
109
18.3%
|
33
5.5%
|
129
21.6%
|
270
45.3%
|
55
9.2%
|
596
|
Deserted Wife’s Benefit
|
3
50.0%
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
3
50.0%
|
Nil
|
6
|
Maternity Benefit
|
6
11.1%
|
Nil
|
13
24.1%
|
34
63.0%
|
1
1.9%
|
54
|
Paternity Benefit
|
1
6.3%
|
1
6.3%
|
Nil
|
14
87.5%
|
Nil
|
16
|
Treatment Benefits
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
2
100.0%
|
2
|
Partial Capacity Benefit
|
16
50.0%
|
Nil
|
2
6.3%
|
13
40.6%
|
1
3.1%
|
32
|
Disability Allowance
|
3,112
62.2%
|
99
2.0%
|
462
9.2%
|
1,256
25.1%
|
77
1.5%
|
5,006
|
Blind Pension
|
2
14.3%
|
2
14.3%
|
3
21.4%
|
6
42.9%
|
1
7.1%
|
14
|
Carer’s Allowance
|
1,047
38.6%
|
144
5.3%
|
440
16.2%
|
989
36.5%
|
90
3.3%
|
2,710
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance
|
686
43.6%
|
13
0.8%
|
590
37.5%
|
258
16.4%
|
25
1.6%
|
1,572
|
Carer’s Support Grant
|
28
20.0%
|
5
3.6%
|
35
25.0%
|
68
48.6%
|
4
2.9%
|
140
|
Illness Benefit
|
111
22.4%
|
11
2.2%
|
164
33.1%
|
182
36.8%
|
27
5.5%
|
495
|
Injury Benefit
|
10
21.3%
|
Nil
|
6
12.8%
|
29
61.7%
|
2
4.3%
|
47
|
Invalidity Pension
|
458
41.9%
|
8
0.7%
|
322
29.4%
|
273
25.0%
|
33
3.0%
|
1,094
|
Disablement Benefit
|
116
35.3%
|
18
5.5%
|
32
9.7%
|
158
48.0%
|
5
1.5%
|
329
|
Incapacity Supplement
|
4
80.0%
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
1
20.0%
|
Nil
|
5
|
Medical Care
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
1
100.0%
|
Nil
|
1
|
Carer’s Benefit
|
32
23.4%
|
4
2.9%
|
52
38.0%
|
46
33.6%
|
3
2.2%
|
137
|
Child Benefit
|
62
14.6%
|
18
4.2%
|
146
34.3%
|
179
42.0%
|
21
4.9%
|
426
|
Working Family Payment*
|
59
15.3%
|
18
4.7%
|
173
44.8%
|
116
30.1%
|
20
5.2%
|
386
|
Back To Work Family Dividend
|
4
8.5%
|
Nil
|
12
25.5%
|
26
55.3%
|
5
10.6%
|
47
|
Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)
|
1
11.1%
|
1
11.1%
|
2
22.2%
|
5
55.6%
|
Nil
|
9
|
Guardian’s Payment (Contributory)
|
7
29.2%
|
1
4.2%
|
2
8.3%
|
14
58.3%
|
Nil
|
24
|
Widowed Parent Grant
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
1
20.0%
|
4
80.0%
|
Nil
|
5
|
Insurability
|
25
26.3%
|
3
3.2%
|
3
3.2%
|
51
53.7%
|
13
13.7%
|
95
|
Liable Relatives
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
1
20.0%
|
2
40.0%
|
2
40.0%
|
5
|
Recoverable Benefits & Assistance
|
1
4.3%
|
2
8.7%
|
2
8.7%
|
18
78.3%
|
Nil
|
23
|
TOTAL APPEALS
|
6,802
36.8%
|
662
3.6%
|
3,425
18.5%
|
6,681
36.1%
|
937
5.1%
|
18,507
|
* Previously known as Family Income Supplement