Simon Harris
Ceist:346 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for rent supplement appeal decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26662/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 6 June 2012
Ceisteanna (356, 357, 358, 359, 360)
Freagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that statistics on Rent Supplement appeals are not maintained. Rent Supplement comes under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. The current average times taken to process Supplementary Welfare Allowance appeals is 12.8 weeks for appeals decided by summary decision and 17 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing.
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 by the Department's Inspectors, 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.
Dominic Hannigan
Ceist:347 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Meath is still waiting for their appeal to be decided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26673/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11 April 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred in to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
Maureen O'Sullivan
Ceist:348 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer’s allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; if she will expedite the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26675/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on 22nd October 2011. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts.
Since the appeal was decided, the appellant, through his representative, has requested an oral hearing. However, where the facts of a case are clear from the file, there is little point in arranging an oral hearing. In this case, one of the grounds for disallowance is that the appellant is working more than 15 hours per week outside the home and accordingly, does not meet one of the conditions governing eligibility for this payment.
Should his circumstances change, it is open to the appellant to re-apply for the allowance.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
John McGuinness
Ceist:349 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal will be expedited for carer’s allowance and social welfare allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26693/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeals from the person concerned were referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in these cases on 31st May 2012. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:350 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer’s allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26696/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that there is no Carers Allowance appeal registered in that office for the person concerned.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an Illness Benefit appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 20th October 2011. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office and the case has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.