Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2023
99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the number of appeals against decisions made by her Department have increased or decreased in respect of means-tested payments; the number of applicants refused payment for whatever reason to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24622/23]
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 the number of appeals in respect of means tested payments received in the period January to April in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Appeals Received in respect of Means Tested Payments
|
- |
Jan-Apr 2021 |
Jan-Apr 2022 |
% Change |
Jan-Apr 2023 |
% Change |
|
Total |
4,311 |
4,317 |
0.1% |
4,572 |
5.90% |
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.The Department has advised that the number of applicants refused payment for whatever reason in the period January to April 2023 was 41,250.I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
