Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2023
503. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of appeals currently in hand in respect of means-tested social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25001/23]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision-making functions.
The table below provides details of the total number of appeals on hands as of 30 April 2023 in respect of means-tested social welfare payments
|
Scheme |
Total |
|
Blind Pension |
2 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
831 |
|
Disability Allowance |
1,783 |
|
Farm Assist |
35 |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional Payment |
51 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
143 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
137 |
|
Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) |
7 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
459 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
1,251 |
|
Widower’s (Non-Contributory) Pension |
12 |
|
Total |
4,711 |
All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year about 85% of all claims are awarded by the Department and approximately 1% are appealed. The Department endeavours to ensure that these cases are dealt with as quickly as possible.
There is active engagement between the Appeals Office and the Department to ensure that the appeals process operates efficiently and that where the Deciding Officer's decision is not revised in favour of the appellant that the appeal file papers are provided as quickly as possible to the Appeals Office for consideration by an Appeals Officer.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
