Written Answers Nos. 537-554
537. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a disability allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and when they can expect a decision on their case. [26381/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was 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 Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
538. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount paid per project to a company (details supplied) since 1 January 2016 to date by year, amount and project name; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26389/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA breakdown of all payments to Mediavest for the years 2016 and 2017 is set out in the following table. Expenditure was on routine newspaper advertising such as public notifications of permanent or temporary office closures, relocations or recruitment to branch offices, and customer job events.
|
Company |
Project Description |
Date |
Amount (Incl. VAT) |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Advertising Christmas & New Year Opening Times |
19/02/2016 |
€5,597.54 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Jobs Week, 28 September to 2 October 2015, in Killarney, Co. Kerry |
26/02/2016 |
€2,650.61 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Vacancy for Manager of Social Welfare Branch Office, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo |
26/02/2016 |
€3,444.50 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Print advertising |
17/05/2016 |
€3,138.16 |
|
Total for 2016: |
€14,830.81 |
||
|
Company |
Description |
Date |
Amount (Incl. VAT) |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Joint Advertisement: DSP and Revenue |
28/02/2017 |
€5,716.02 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Advertising Intreo Careers Fair - Dublin Castle |
03/03/2017 |
€2,540.82 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Vacancy for Manager of Department of Social Protection Branch Office - Macroom Co. Cork |
03/03/2017 |
€5,046.95 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Closure of Macroom Branch Office |
24/04/2017 |
€6,585.45 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Print Advertisement - Macroom Branch Officer Ad Re-run |
06/11/2017 |
€10,194.15 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Jobsweek 2017 - Regional Print Ads |
30/11/2017 |
€2,893.98 |
|
Total for 2017: |
€32,977.37 |
539. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied). [26412/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care. I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on the 16 May 2017.
As the applicant is self-employed, the matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 28 July 2017 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.
Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
540. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of public consultations held by her Department or by a State agency under the remit of her Department; the number of replies received per consultation; and the cost of each consultation in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [26460/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is currently being compiled by my Department and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.
541. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to instances in which resignation letters are automatically drafted on software (details supplied) and issued to clients of a company indicating that the client has refused and-or declined an extended period of probation in employment; if these persons can be sanctioned in the context of reduced payments for declined extended probation periods in view of the fact that the persons may have met or exceeded all that was required of them in the work placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26476/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn this case the customer submitted an application for Jobseekers Allowance on the 2/5/18. The customer was previously in full time employment but left the employment on the 1/5/18 following a probationary period of 3 months. The customer stated in the application the reason the employment ended was because the probationary period of employment was unsuccessful. The employer offered the customer an extended employment period of 3 months following the probationary period but the customer did not accept this offer and informed the employer he would leave the company. The employer offered to reinstate the customer’s employment but the customer did not reply to the employer’s offer.
The regulations state that persons may be subject to a disqualification period on Jobseekers Allowance as determined by a Deciding Officer, but in any case not exceeding 9 weeks, in certain circumstances.
For example
- Refusal of offer of suitable employment
- Loss of employment because of wilful misconduct
- Leaving employment voluntarily without just cause
- Refusal or Failure to Engage with Activation Measures where penalty rate applied
It is at the discretion of the Deciding Officer whether to apply a disqualification period based on the information provided by the customer and also taking into account information supplied by the employer. In this case a decision was made that a disqualification period of 5 weeks was appropriate and in line with current legislation and guidelines.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
542. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) had to complete the same JobPath programme twice and was not allowed a 12 month break after their most recent employment in March 2018; if the matter will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26491/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will know the JobPath activation service is to help long-term unemployed jobseekers find sustainable full time work. The duration of a person's jobseekers claim is recorded in terms of days of unemployment, any two such periods not separated by more than 52 weeks are considered to be the same continuous period of unemployment – this is known as linking the claims. Long-term jobseekers that have left the live register to go into employment for less than a year are still considered to be long-term if they reopen their claim within that 52 week period. The linking of claims allows the client to retain certain entitlements (for example no waiting days and other supplemental benefits), it also ensures they are also available for selection for activation services including JobPath as it is a priority of my Department to ensure that all Jobseekers receive support in returning to the workforce in a most timely and efficient manner as possible
In the case mentioned, the person concerned engaged with the JobPath service up to August 2017 and shortly afterwards was successful in finding a temporary position for 5 months before returning to the live register where they were again eligible for selection for receipt of activation support and the person was randomly selected for referral to the JobPath service in March 2018.
For this person, in common with other jobseekers who are referred to the JobPath service after short periods of employment, the one-to-one case-managed service will provide the support and assistance necessary to build on skills gained in the employment; to reconsider employment preferences if necessary and ensure that the work experience and other relevant information is factored into all future job applications.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
543. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to expand the household benefits package qualifying criteria to include those under 66 years of age in receipt of a widow's or widower's contributory or non-contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26515/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe household benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €237 million this year on HHB for over 437,000 customers.
The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. Therefore anyone aged less than 70 years of age must be in receipt of a qualifying payment from the Department or satisfy a means test in order to qualify for HHB.
People in receipt of HHB aged under 66 are generally in receipt of payments such as Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance or Carers. These payment types mean that the recipients are unable to work full time and earn additional income. This is not the case for people in receipt of widow’s contributory payment who are aged less than 66. These recipients, who are of working age and generally are capable of work, may take up full-time employment, at any level of remuneration, without losing entitlement to their widow’s contributory payment.
In general, widow’s pension only becomes a qualifying payment for HHB once the recipient reaches the age of 66 (State pension age) to ensure alignment with secondary benefits that are available to people in receipt of the State pension.
The concession whereby widows aged between 60 and 65 years, whose late spouse/civil partner received HHB from my Department, may qualify for the package was introduced at a time when State pension age was 65 and this cohort of widows were seen as significantly less likely to be in a position to take up employment than those of a younger age.
Any decision to extend the concession to widows aged less than 60 or to allow recipients of widow’s pension of any age to qualify for HHB would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of budget negotiations. It would also be necessary to consider whether they would be a priority group for the extension of such benefits ahead of other groups such as the unemployed or lone parents.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
544. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue on an application by a person (details supplied) for carer's allowance in view of the fact that the matter has been ongoing for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26517/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department received an application for carer's allowance (CA) from the person concerned on the 18 January 2018.
CA is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.
As the applicant is a self-employed farmer, the matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 4 May 2018 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.
Enquiries by the SWI are continuing. Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
545. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of claims for illness benefit and disability allowance that have been made and approved, respectively, in the two and a half year period since the introduction of JobPath in July 2015 to December 2017; and the comparison with the two and a half year period January 2013 to June 2015 prior to the introduction of JobPath. [26642/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement.
|
Disability Allowance |
Registered |
Awarded |
Illness Benefit |
Registered |
Awarded |
|
Jan-17 |
1577 |
1385 |
Jan-17 |
20837 |
15774 |
|
Feb-17 |
2179 |
1469 |
Feb-17 |
17755 |
12755 |
|
Mar-17 |
2507 |
1552 |
Mar-17 |
18691 |
14943 |
|
Apr-17 |
1840 |
1065 |
Apr-17 |
14903 |
12089 |
|
May-17 |
2490 |
1721 |
May-17 |
19047 |
13732 |
|
Jun-17 |
1766 |
1900 |
Jun-17 |
17432 |
12598 |
|
Jul-17 |
1813 |
1713 |
Jul-17 |
16499 |
15379 |
|
Aug-17 |
2182 |
1627 |
Aug-17 |
16938 |
12730 |
|
Sep-17 |
1890 |
1299 |
Sep-17 |
16810 |
12859 |
|
Oct-17 |
1820 |
1278 |
Oct-17 |
17305 |
12860 |
|
Nov-17 |
2215 |
1436 |
Nov-17 |
19494 |
12746 |
|
Dec-17 |
1378 |
1024 |
Dec-17 |
13673 |
10565 |
|
Disability Allowance |
Registered |
Awarded |
Illness Benefit |
Registered |
Awarded |
|
Jan-16 |
1634 |
1146 |
Jan-16 |
17616 |
13081 |
|
Feb-16 |
1936 |
1053 |
Feb-16 |
20509 |
14900 |
|
Mar-16 |
2155 |
1165 |
Mar-16 |
18438 |
12666 |
|
Apr-16 |
1986 |
1458 |
Apr-16 |
17813 |
14284 |
|
May-16 |
1941 |
1349 |
May-16 |
17257 |
13640 |
|
Jun-16 |
2203 |
1490 |
Jun-16 |
17155 |
12674 |
|
Jul-16 |
1837 |
1546 |
Jul-16 |
16374 |
12717 |
|
Aug-16 |
2126 |
1475 |
Aug-16 |
16739 |
12293 |
|
Sep-16 |
1973 |
1843 |
Sep-16 |
17769 |
12392 |
|
Oct-16 |
2155 |
1632 |
Oct-16 |
16990 |
13591 |
|
Nov-16 |
2471 |
1483 |
Nov-16 |
18561 |
14105 |
|
Dec-16 |
1387 |
1029 |
Dec-16 |
14464 |
9810 |
|
Disability Allowance |
Registered |
Awarded |
Illness Benefit |
Registered |
Awarded |
|
Jan-15 |
1594 |
1181 |
Jan-15 |
19944 |
13501 |
|
Feb-15 |
1913 |
1476 |
Feb-15 |
18844 |
13614 |
|
Mar-15 |
1745 |
1455 |
Mar-15 |
18947 |
13853 |
|
Apr-15 |
1663 |
1301 |
Apr-15 |
17485 |
13061 |
|
May-15 |
2277 |
1361 |
May-15 |
16275 |
12395 |
|
Jun-15 |
1872 |
1089 |
Jun-15 |
17591 |
12555 |
|
Jul-15 |
2312 |
1291 |
Jul-15 |
17996 |
13738 |
|
Aug-15 |
1590 |
1198 |
Aug-15 |
14585 |
11301 |
|
Sep-15 |
2246 |
1378 |
Sep-15 |
17645 |
12324 |
|
Oct-15 |
1737 |
1464 |
Oct-15 |
17679 |
12747 |
|
Nov-15 |
1976 |
1429 |
Nov-15 |
17779 |
14206 |
|
Dec-15 |
1613 |
1191 |
Dec-15 |
14980 |
11397 |
|
Disability Allowance |
Registered |
Awarded |
Illness Benefit |
Registered |
Awarded |
|
Jan-14 |
1435 |
1176 |
Jan-14 |
24057 |
17688 |
|
Feb-14 |
1897 |
1044 |
Feb-14 |
22716 |
15334 |
|
Mar-14 |
1616 |
900 |
Mar-14 |
21296 |
15597 |
|
Apr-14 |
948 |
1072 |
Apr-14 |
18966 |
13295 |
|
May-14 |
2332 |
1077 |
May-14 |
18426 |
13951 |
|
Jun-14 |
1125 |
1134 |
Jun-14 |
16970 |
11512 |
|
Jul-14 |
1588 |
1487 |
Jul-14 |
18302 |
13754 |
|
Aug-14 |
2135 |
1466 |
Aug-14 |
15269 |
11096 |
|
Sep-14 |
1927 |
1467 |
Sep-14 |
18419 |
13321 |
|
Oct-14 |
1485 |
1044 |
Oct-14 |
19203 |
13408 |
|
Nov-14 |
3141 |
885 |
Nov-14 |
17426 |
12604 |
|
Dec-14 |
1442 |
1124 |
Dec-14 |
15224 |
10627 |
|
Disability Allowance |
Registered |
Awarded |
Illness Benefit |
Registered |
Awarded |
|
Jan-13 |
1579 |
844 |
Jan-13 |
29932 |
25913 |
|
Feb-13 |
1614 |
773 |
Feb-13 |
27648 |
22879 |
|
Mar-13 |
1841 |
777 |
Mar-13 |
24678 |
22182 |
|
Apr-13 |
1732 |
621 |
Apr-13 |
26085 |
22200 |
|
May-13 |
2002 |
1089 |
May-13 |
24808 |
21258 |
|
Jun-13 |
1456 |
930 |
Jun-13 |
20890 |
18011 |
|
Jul-13 |
1547 |
997 |
Jul-13 |
23804 |
21123 |
|
Aug-13 |
1601 |
970 |
Aug-13 |
20491 |
16799 |
|
Sep-13 |
1863 |
1509 |
Sep-13 |
22251 |
18334 |
|
Oct-13 |
2362 |
1490 |
Oct-13 |
25735 |
21677 |
|
Nov-13 |
1894 |
1435 |
Nov-13 |
22708 |
20470 |
|
Dec-13 |
1047 |
1062 |
Dec-13 |
19022 |
14610 |
546. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26683/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on the 28 May 2018.
The application is currently being examined by a deciding officer and once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
547. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017. [26686/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 was examined at the Select Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection on 17 May 2018 and passed Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann on that date. Report Stage of the Bill in the Dáil is scheduled for 26 and 27 June.
The Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is an important piece of legislation. It contains a range of measures designed to improve the security and predictability of working hours for employees on insecure contracts and those working variable hours. It aims to do this by:
- Providing that employees are better informed about their terms of employment, particularly their core terms at an early stage - this includes much greater clarity about the hours they will be expected to work in a normal working day and a normal working week.
- Improved compensation for low-paid employees called in to work but sent home without the expected work.
- Introducing a Banded Hours provision for employees whose contracts of employment do not reflect the reality of the hours they have worked consistently over a 12 month reference period.
- Stronger anti-penalisation provisions for employees where they seek to exercise their rights under the Bill.
I will continue to work with colleagues on all sides of the House to progress this Bill as expeditiously as possible so that we deliver legislation that is fair, balanced and that works in practice.
548. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a full application form for rent supplement is required in the case of a person (details supplied) when they are currently in payment and had recently contacted the section to update their circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26777/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of Rent Supplement is to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible persons living in private rented accommodation, where they are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources and do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. Rent Supplement claims are regularly reviewed to ensure there is an ongoing need for the payment and that the conditions of entitlement continue to be met.
All Rent Supplement claims in the South Kildare /West Wicklow area are currently in the process of being reviewed. As part of that review, there is a standard list of items requested from all claimants including form (SWA 3A) that a claimant is requested to complete to establish their current circumstances. It is expected that all Rent Supplement claims will be reviewed on an annual basis.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
549. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when carer's allowance will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26778/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that the person’s means must be less than the statutory limit.
It is a further condition for receipt of payment that the carer must furnish such certificates, documents and information affecting their right to payment, that are requested by an officer of my department and the person concerned must notify the department of any change in circumstances which affect their right to payment.
During the course of a review of entitlement, it was discovered that the person concerned had not fully disclosed her means to the Department and to date she has not provided all the documentation that was requested from her by a social welfare inspector (SWI).
Accordingly, the deciding officer has decided that the person concerned is not entitled to CA.
The person concerned was notified on 14 March 2018 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of appeal.
If the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet her needs she should apply for a means-tested supplementary welfare allowance from her local community welfare service.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
550. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the grounds upon which no jobseeker's allowance payment issued to a person (details supplied) in the week commencing 11 June 2018; when payment will be restored in this instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26779/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was in receipt of a jobseeker allowance claim up to 1/5/2018 at which time they secured employment. Upon termination of this employment the person concerned submitted an application for jobseeker allowance with effect from 28/5/18 and as part of this application was asked to provide evidence that employment had ceased. As an interim measure the person concerned was referred to the Community Welfare Officer who awarded a Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment. This is still in payment.
The jobseeker allowance claim was awarded but immediately suspended as the person concerned advised their local Intreo Centre they would be commencing a 7 week course with Kildare Wicklow Education & Training Board (KWETB) on 28/5/18. A form F103 was submitted by the person concerned confirming jobseeker allowance entitlement for the KWETB.
It is standard procedure when a customer commences a course of this length that their claim is suspended for the period of the course, as they receive payment from the relevant body. Following these representations, the Intreo Centre made contact with the KWETB and it appears that the person concerned did not commence the course. The person concerned should contact their Intreo Centre to clarify their current circumstances in order to have a jobseeker allowance payment re-instated.
I trust this clarifies this matter for the Deputy.
551. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 496 of 12 June 2018, when the provisions of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014, upon which the commencement of some sections of Part 9 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 are dependent will be commenced; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26799/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSections 96 and 98 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 amend sections 6, 9 and 13 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014.
A number of amendments to civil registration legislation, including those referred to above, remain to be commenced pending the roll-out of training to staff of the Civil Registration Service who are employees of the HSE. The General Register Office is in a position to begin provision of training as soon as the HSE notifies it of the dates and venues. Discussions to commence the training are well advanced and it should hopefully commence shortly.
552. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) regarding a refusal for a domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26834/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was 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 Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
553. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports in place for self-employed persons that have to stop work due to illness for a number of weeks or months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26859/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSelf-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which covers them for access to long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory) as well as some treatment benefits, maternity and paternity benefit, adoptive benefit and guardians payment (contributory).
Self-employed contributors have been covered for invalidity pension since December 2017. This gives the self-employed access to a safety-net of income supports if they become permanently incapable of work as a result of a long-term illness or disability without a means test.
Class S contributions do not provide access to short-term social insurance benefits such as illness benefit. However, the means tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme may be available to those who are experiencing financial difficulty
I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
554. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for various social welfare payments that have been refused in each of the past five years to date; the number referred for appeal; the extent to which appeals overturned the original decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26901/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of refused applications, by scheme, for the past five years, and the number of appeals received in the same years, by outcome, are shown in the following tables.
Refused applications by scheme, 2013-2018
|
Scheme |
Jan-May 2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
2015 |
2014 |
2013 |
|
Illness Benefit |
20,445 |
44,709 |
46,118 |
50,083 |
61,165 |
37,615 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
1,050 |
2,019 |
1,682 |
1,470 |
1,832 |
1,061 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
582 |
1,570 |
1,370 |
1,568 |
1,458 |
1,343 |
|
Paternity Benefit* |
168 |
542 |
115 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Child Benefit Domestic |
346 |
674 |
801 |
682 |
549 |
623 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
N/avail |
16,863 |
17,728 |
23,495 |
24,719 |
27,333 |
|
Working Family Payment (New) |
3,808 |
10,042 |
8,915 |
9,208 |
7,225 |
10,082 |
|
Working Family Payment (Renewals) |
7,112 |
17,512 |
14,188 |
11,538 |
3,149 |
2,787 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
3,802 |
8,599 |
11,144 |
7,920 |
7,078 |
9,881 |
|
Disability Allowance |
5,364 |
12,022 |
12,027 |
14,800 |
12,621 |
14,691 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
1,938 |
4,579 |
3,909 |
5,070 |
5,496 |
8,546 |
|
State Pension Contributory (Irish) |
3,682 |
9,442 |
9,051 |
9,099 |
7,404 |
6,991 |
|
Widow(er's) Contributory Pension |
476 |
1,240 |
1,436 |
1,361 |
1,250 |
1,263 |
|
State Pension Non-Contributory |
872 |
2,139 |
2,332 |
2,188 |
2,350 |
2351 |
|
Living Alone/Island Allowance |
679 |
1,347 |
1,557 |
1,403 |
1,406 |
1,245 |
|
Free Travel |
1,055 |
2,193 |
2,552 |
2,103 |
2,447 |
2,268 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
896 |
2,187 |
1,683 |
2,102 |
2,024 |
2,442 |
|
Household Benefits |
6,997 |
18,030 |
16,806 |
17,282 |
14,459 |
16,030 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Total |
3,011 |
19,043 |
18,673 |
18,741 |
22,116 |
26,265 |
|
Of which, Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
1,120 |
2819 |
2,693 |
2,671 |
2,850 |
3,413 |
*Paternity Benefit introduced on 1 September 2016
Appeals received and Outcome Decisions of Appeals Finalised (2013 – 2018)
|
Appeals |
|||||
|
Appeal Receipts |
Finalised |
Favourable Decisions |
Appeals Disallowed |
Withdrawn |
|
|
2013 |
32,777 |
38,421 |
21,139 |
14,985 |
2,297 |
|
2014 |
26,069 |
31,211 |
17,636 |
11,751 |
1,824 |
|
2015 |
24,475 |
25,406 |
14,946 |
9,167 |
1,293 |
|
2016 |
22,461 |
23,220 |
13,754 |
8,336 |
1,130 |
|
2017 |
19,658 |
18,980 |
11,405 |
6,434 |
1,141 |
|
2018 (to 31/5/2018) |
7,566 |
7,562 |
4,346 |
2, 781 |
435 |
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
All claim decisions taken by the Department’s deciding officers are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year about 85% of all claims are awarded and just 1% are appealed.
The figures provided in the tables for appeals which had a favourable outcome for the appellant relate to appeals which were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer, or which were resolved by way of a revised decision in favour of the appellant by a Deciding Officer/Designated Person.
There are a number of reasons why a decision which was refused at first instance might be successful on appeal and it is not necessarily the case that the first decision was incorrect. It is often the case that new evidence is provided with an appeal and that, as a result, the original decision may be revised by the Deciding Officer or Designated Person. This was the case in 37.1% of favourable appeal outcomes in 2016 (5,100 cases), 37.6% of favourable appeal outcomes in 2017 (4,283 cases) and 34.7% of favourable appeals to date in 2018 (1,507 cases).
Where the decision was not revised by the Department in light of the appeal contentions, further evidence is often provided by the appellant as the appeal process proceeds and in addition, the Appeals Officer may gain insights when they meet the appellant in person at oral hearing which may influence the outcome of the appeal.
