I propose to take Questions Nos. 158, 161 and 162 together.
Figures in regard to the numbers of cases received and outstanding, by scheme, for 2010 and the number of staff in the Social Welfare Appeals Office, are given in the tables with this reply. Figures for 2011 in regard to the numbers of cases received and outstanding, per scheme, are not yet readily available.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the average waiting for an appeal dealt with by way of a summary decision is 27.4 weeks, while the average time to process an oral hearing is 45.6 weeks. These processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation and include all activities during this period including time spent in the Department for comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal put forward by the appellant and any further investigation, examination or assessment by the Department's Inspectors and Medical Assessors that is deemed necessary. A considerable period of time is added to the process when an oral hearing is required because of the logistics involved in this process.
A number of initiatives have been taken in recent years to deal with the increases in numbers of cases in the Appeals process. In addition to the provision of extra staff, more emphasis was placed on dealing with appeals on a summary basis so as to increase productivity. As a result, the number of appeals dealt with by way of oral hearing was reduced from 59% in 2009 to 31.5% in 2010.
The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010 facilitated the use of experienced retired former Appeals Officers, on a strictly temporary basis to assist in reducing the backlog of Social Welfare Appeals cases. The matter of assigning additional Appeals Officers is kept under constant review but any consideration of extra assignments must be taken in the context of overall government policy on civil service numbers. A project to improve the business processes in the office was also undertaken which has resulted in a number of improvements being implemented and significant enhancements have been made to the office's IT and phone systems.
As a result of all of these initiatives, a total of 17,499 appeals were finalised by Appeals Officers in 2010 in comparison to 10,027 for 2009. When revised decisions and withdrawn cases are taken into account the total number of cases finalised in 2010 was 28,166 in comparison to 17,787 for 2009.
I am assured by the Chief Appeals Officer that she is keeping current processes under continuous review with a view to achieving a more effective throughput of appeals, while ensuring that any progress does not conflict with due process in terms of the rights of appellants and adherence to the requirements of natural justice.
|
Appeals Received by Scheme 2010
|
Appeals awaiting decision at 1/1/2011
|
Average time take to process appeals by summary decision by scheme in 2010
|
Average time take to process appeals following oral hearing by scheme in 2010
|
Adoptive Benefit
|
2
|
2
|
32.6
|
—
|
Blind Pension
|
13
|
7
|
19.8
|
39.4
|
Carers Allowance
|
2,969
|
2,145
|
26.9
|
47.3
|
Carers Benefit
|
180
|
73
|
21.6
|
44.2
|
Child Benefit
|
1,050
|
1,187
|
48.4
|
63.1
|
Disability Allowance
|
4,568
|
3,046
|
30.8
|
51.1
|
Illness Benefit
|
5,313
|
2,658
|
39.2
|
56.4
|
Domiciliary Care
|
1,827
|
1,386
|
26.8
|
49.1
|
Deserted Wives Benefit
|
14
|
14
|
33.9
|
29.0
|
Farm Assist
|
244
|
163
|
23.2
|
50.7
|
Bereavement Grant
|
59
|
30
|
25.1
|
—
|
Family Income Supplement
|
224
|
105
|
21.4
|
29.0
|
Homemakers
|
1
|
—
|
15.3
|
—
|
Invalidity Pension
|
998
|
612
|
40.9
|
59.7
|
Liable Relatives
|
16
|
22
|
35.9
|
—
|
One Parent Family Payment
|
1,085
|
819
|
30.2
|
49.4
|
Maternity Benefit
|
29
|
21
|
37.7
|
—
|
State Pension (Contributory)
|
258
|
110
|
29.6
|
49.2
|
State Pension (Non-Cont)
|
353
|
230
|
26.5
|
49.9
|
State Pension (Transition)
|
7
|
11
|
30.7
|
—
|
Occupational Injury Benefit
|
22
|
18
|
55.7
|
53.8
|
Occupational Injury Ben (Med)
|
22
|
49
|
32.5
|
67.9
|
Disablement Pension
|
343
|
334
|
27.4
|
51.9
|
Death Benefit (Pension)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
69.6
|
Incapacity Supplement
|
15
|
15
|
—
|
30.7
|
Guardian’s Payment (Con)
|
26
|
26
|
25.3
|
48.3
|
Guardian’s Payment (NonCon)
|
7
|
9
|
24.3
|
42.2
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance
|
2
|
1
|
—
|
—
|
Jobseeker’s Allow (Means)
|
4,000
|
2,496
|
22.2
|
46.9
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance
|
5,488
|
3,312
|
23.6
|
43.0
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit
|
1,292
|
766
|
22.6
|
36.0
|
JA/JB Fraud Control
|
3
|
6
|
—
|
—
|
Respite Care Grant
|
162
|
114
|
30.5
|
49.1
|
Insurability of Employment
|
121
|
112
|
31.3
|
67.4
|
Supplementary Welfare All
|
989
|
343
|
6.9
|
14.8
|
Treatment Benefits
|
8
|
4
|
21.9
|
57.8
|
Survivor’s Pension (Con)
|
20
|
14
|
35.2
|
53.6
|
Survivor’s Pension (NonCon)
|
12
|
13
|
31.9
|
54.6
|
Widows Parent Grant
|
3
|
1
|
20.9
|
—
|
Staff of Social Welfare Appeals Office
Grade
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
Chief Appeals Officer
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
Deputy Chief Appeals Officer
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
Office Manager
|
1.0
|
—
|
—
|
—*
|
Appeals Officers
|
16.4
|
18.4
|
19.6
|
19.6
|
Retired Appeals Officers (from July 2010)
|
|
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
Higher Executive Officers
|
2.8
|
2.8
|
2.8
|
2.8
|
Executive Officers
|
8.9
|
8.9
|
9.2
|
9.2
|
Staff Officers
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
Clerical Officers
|
18.4
|
18.4
|
22.6
|
22.6
|
Total
|
54.5
|
56.5
|
64.2
|
64.2
|
*From February 2009, the position of Office Manager has been subsumed into the duties of the Deputy Chief Appeals Officer.