Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2022
436. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal by a person (details supplied) that was lodged in respect of a domiciliary care allowance will be accepted given the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59324/22]
View answerThe 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.
I am advised that the appeal application sent on behalf of the person concerned to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 1 November 2022 was deemed to be a late appeal by that Office on the basis of the information available at the time. However, as the Deputy has now advised in the details provided with the parliamentary question, that the person concerned only received the decision of the Deciding Officer dated 27 September 2022 two weeks later on 11 October 2022 the appeal has now been accepted.
In accordance with the statutory requirements the relevant Departmental papers and the comments of the Deciding Officer on the matter raised in the appeal have been sought.
On receipt of a response from the Department of Social Protection the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
