A claim for orphan's contributory allowance by the person concerned in respect of a grandchild was refused by a deciding officer on 23 October, 2000 on the grounds that the child was not an orphan within the meaning of the relevant social welfare legislation.
An appeals officer subsequently upheld the deciding officer's decision.
The person concerned re-applied for orphan's contributory allowance on 14 May, 2003. His application was again disallowed by a deciding officer on 21 May 2003 as no new evidence was supplied that might have warranted a revised decision.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of invalidity pension at a rate of €240.40 per week and child dependant allowance increase of €57.90 in respect of three children including the grandchild in respect of whom the orphan's contributory allowance was claimed. He is also in receipt of a fuel allowance of €12.90.
Under social welfare legislation, decisions in regard to claims are made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.