Vol. 401 No. 5
76 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will change the regulations in order to permit the payment of disability benefit to recipients during the period of reassessment and appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Any disallowance of a claim for disability benefit is made by a statutorily appointed deciding officer who has considered the case in the light of evidence available to him arising from a medical referee examination. Once the deciding officer decides that a person is no longer incapable of work disability benefit cannot remain in payment.
Where a person appeals against the deciding officer's decision and the appeal is successful, disability benefit is restored with effect from the date on which the deciding officer made his decision.
It is open to any person who has been disallowed for disability benefit and who is unemployed, to claim unemployment benefit or assistance while awaiting the outcome of an appeal. Otherwise if he is in need, he can claim supplementary welfare allowance.
