Jim Higgins
Ceist:857 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when an oral appeal date for a disability benefit claim will be available for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [2394/02]
Vol. 547 No. 1
857 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when an oral appeal date for a disability benefit claim will be available for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [2394/02]
Payment of disability benefit was disallowed by a deciding officer following an examination by a medical assessor of my Department who considered that he was capable of work. The person concerned appealed this decision to the social welfare appeals office and in that context he was examined by another medical assessor who was also of the opinion that he was capable of work. His appeal has been considered by an appeals officer who has decided that an oral hearing of the appeal is necessary. This will be arranged as soon as possible. Under social welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
858 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of persons who were disallowed social welfare benefits and are waiting on their appeal to be decided. [2424/02]
859 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of appeals for disability benefit, disability allowance and invalidity pension which are awaiting decisions, giving figures for each benefit category; the number of appeals in each of these categories which were finalised in 2001; and the reason his Department insists on visiting these persons regarding their appeals when the Department has not dealt with the backlog. [2425/02]
860 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of appeals for each category of social welfare payment awaiting decisions giving figures for each benefit category; and the number of appeals in each of these categories which were finalised in 2001. [2426/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 858 to 860, inclusive, together.
The total number of appeals finalised by the social welfare appeals office in 2001 was 16,525. A breakdown of this number by main appeal types is as follows:
Old Age and Retirement |
665 |
Disability Benefit |
3,588 |
Invalidity Pensions |
571 |
Disability Allowance |
1,955 |
Occupational Injuries Benefits |
737 |
Unemployment Benefit |
1,981 |
Unemployment Assistance – Payments |
2,374 |
Unemployment Assistance – Means |
1,712 |
One-Parent Family Payment |
608 |
Carers Benefit and Allowances |
1,276 |
Supplementary Welfare Allowances |
360 |
Other appeals |
698 |
Old Age and Retirement |
431 |
Disability Benefit |
1,522 |
Invalidity Pensions |
272 |
Disability Allowance |
852 |
Occupational Injuries Benefits |
429 |
Unemployment Benefit |
582 |
Unemployment Assistance – Payments |
607 |
Unemployment Assistance – Means |
392 |
One-Parent Family Payment |
722 |
Carers Benefit and Allowances |
749 |
Supplementary Welfare Allowances |
44 |
Other appeals |
371 |