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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Appeals.

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]

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.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

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]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

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]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

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

At 31 December 2001 there were 6,973 appeals on which work was in progress. These appeals were at various stages of the appeals process. A breakdown of this number as between the main categories is as follows:

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

It may be necessary for a social welfare inspector to visit a person in connection with an appeal where the grounds advanced in the appeal require further investigation. In rare cases an appeals officer may hold a domiciliary hearing where a person is not fit to attend the usual venue. Otherwise people are not normally visited in connection with their appeals.
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