Pat Upton
Ceist:71 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social Welfare the main categories of appeals which were made against social welfare decisions for the last year for which data is available; and the number in each category. [8188/95]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Appeals.
Pat Upton
Ceist:72 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of social welfare appeals and the numbers which were successful for each year since 1990. [8189/95]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together.
The numbers of appeals received by the independent social welfare appeals office against deciding officers' decisions during the period from 1991, when the office was established, to 1994 were: 1991 — 19,314; 1992 — 17,610; 1993 — 18,285; 1994 —13,504.
The main categories of appeals received in 1994 were as follows: 1. unemployment (payment and means issues) — 7,096; 2. sickness benefits (including invalidity and occupational injuries) — 4,574; 3. old age and retirement (including pre-retirement allowance) — 875; 4. widows and lone parents — 538.
Precise information on the outcome of appeals is only available for the years 1993 and 1994. In 1993, 45 per cent of appeals were wholly or partly successful on appeal arising from revised decisions by deciding officers or favourable determinations by appeals officers. The corresponding figure for 1994 was almost 54 per cent.