Social Protection Committee to discuss the operation of the Social Welfare Appeals Office with Department officials

Officials from the Department of Social Protection will appear before the Committee.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Denis Naughten said: “The Committee has received concerns with regard to the processing of Social Welfare appeals and as a result has sought evidence from the Chief Appeals Officer and the Secretary General of the Department of Social Protection."

“While the Appeals Office independently of the Minister and the Department in arriving at its decisions, it remains under the administrative remit of the Department of Social Protection.”

“The Social Welfare Appeals Office was established to provided an independent appeals service to people who are unhappy with the decisions of deciding officers of the Department of Social Protection regarding their entitlement to a social welfare payments or support and the Committee are anxious to ensure that this independence is maintained and that appeals are dealt with in a equitable manner”.

“Despite nearly a 10% increase in favourable outcomes at Oral Appeal stage, there has been a 500% reduction in the number of Oral hearings despite the use of remote technology by the Appeals Office which should have increased the accessibility and convenience of such hearings."

“We look forward to discussing the impact the Covid-19 pandemic had on the operation of the office, appeal wait times and how appeals are processed with Department Officials.”

Watch the meeting live here or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.

Notes to Editor

Read the 2021 Annual Report of the Social Welfare Appeals Office here.