My reply is as follows:
Year
|
Claims Received
|
Claims Disallowed
|
% Disallowed
|
2009
|
7,475
|
2,933
|
39%
|
2010
|
8,774
|
4,017
|
46%
|
2011
|
14,621
|
*4,697
|
N/A
|
*The figures shown for claims disallowed in 2011 refers to those dealt with from June to December 2011 only as a breakdown of decisions awarded and disallowed is not available for the period January to end May 2011 as a dual system was in operation prior to migration of all Invalidity Pension Claims to a new computer platform. The number of claims registered during that period was 8,466 and the estimated percentage of claims disallowed (4,697), during the same period was 56%.
It is to be noted that the large increase in claim-load during 2011 is related to the changes made whereby payment of short-term illness benefit is now limited to a maximum of 2 years. As a consequence there has been an increase in the number of claimants seeking to avail of the longer term invalidity pension payment. However such claimants may not satisfy the medical conditions necessary to establish a permanent incapacity to work and/or may not satisfy the social insurance contribution conditions necessary to qualify for an invalidity pension. In such cases claimants can apply for the means tested disability allowance scheme.