asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the number of old age pension awards objected to and appealed against by pension officers from January, 1926, to November, 1926, the number of appeals upheld and the number rejected, during this period, and whether the claimant or any person on his or her behalf is examined by the Appeals Board.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - OLD AGE PENSION APPEALS.
The figures I am giving relate to the period from the 1st of January, 1926, to the 30th of November, 1926.
The number of appeals by pension officers arising out of claims and questions relating to old age pensions was 8,056.
I could not readily give the number of appeals upheld and the number rejected. The following is, however, equivalent information:—
APPEALS DECIDED ON CLAIMS.
In 2,197 cases pensions were allowed
In 5,401 cases pensions were disallowed
APPEALS DECIDED ON QUESTIONS.
(by both pension officers and pensioners).
In 143 cases pensions were increased
In 623 cases pensions were unaltered
In 341 cases pensions were reduced
In 125 cases pensions were revoked
Claimants are afforded full opportunity of substantiating their claims by correspondence. All written representations are carefully examined, and where it seems desirable further investigation is made before an appeal is decided. If the circumstances so warrant, an inspector of the Department is deputed to visit the claimant and make local investigation of the facts.
What does the Minister mean by "substantiating their claims by correspondence"?
I caused to be circulated to Deputies last year, I think, a leaflet explaining the whole procedure in connection with old age pensions. If the Deputy will look up that he will find all the information he requires.
I think a good deal of information is still required as to how this Act is being administered.
Will the Minister state how many of these 5,401 claimants that were disallowed had any opportunity of going before him or the Appeals Board, or if they got any notice as to when their appeals were being heard, so that they could prove their claims by correspondence, as now suggested by him?
It is always open to such claimants to make a new appeal.
That is not a reply to my question. I asked whether the claimants got any notice of the date of an appeal, whether they were asked for any further information to prove their claims, or whether the appeals are held behind closed doors and they hear nothing further about it until they get notice of the decision.
I answered that question.
I beg your pardon. You did not answer it.
"All written representations are carefully examined, and where it seems desirable, further investigation is made before an appeal is decided. If the circumstances so warrant, an inspector of the Department is deputed to visit the claimant and make local investigation of the facts."
That is not an answer to the point. Is the Minister aware that in the majority of these 5,401 cases that were disallowed, the first thing that happened was that the person got a notice from the local committee stating that a pension had been awarded; a week or a fortnight afterwards a notice was received stating that the pensions officer had appealed, and probably a week after that again they got a notice stating that they are not entitled to any pension, without having any opportunity of knowing when their appeal was being heard and without getting any opportunity of attending the appeal?
They all have the opportunity of making another appeal if they think they are not fairly treated.
The Minister again is wrong. They do not get any further opportunity. Is the Minister not aware that they get no further opportunities of making an appeal? They are informed that within a period of six months they can make a new claim.
Yes, a new claim.
That is not an appeal.