Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 February 2019
641. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which original decisions are overturned on appeal in respect of the various categories of social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8435/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table provides details of the outcome of all appeals by scheme for 2018.
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.
18,507 appeals were finalised in 2018. Appeals which had a favourable outcome for the appellant consist of appeals which were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer (a total of 7,464 or 40.3%) or which were resolved by way of a revised decision in favour of the appellant by a Deciding Officer/Designated Person (a total of 3,425 or 18.5%). The 7,464 appeals which were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer constitute 52.8% of the 14,145 appeals finalised by Appeals Officers in 2018.
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.
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.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Outcome of Appeals by Category 2018
|
|
Allowed By Appeals Officers |
Partially Allowed By Appeals Officers |
Revised DO/DP Decision |
Disallowed By Appeals Officers |
Withdrawn |
Total |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
85 23.4% |
29 8.0% |
70 19.3% |
144 39.7% |
35 9.6% |
363 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
35 9.5% |
9 2.5% |
64 17.4% |
244 66.5% |
15 4.1% |
367 |
|
Widow’s/Widower’s Pension (Contributory) |
18 45.0% |
-
|
2 5.0% |
14 35.0% |
6 15.0% |
40 |
|
Death Benefit |
-
|
-
|
-
|
1 100.0% |
-
|
1 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
-
|
-
|
-
|
1 100.0% |
- |
1 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance - Payments |
280 18.0% |
99 6.4% |
251 16.1% |
785 50.4% |
141 9.1% |
1,556 |
|
Jobseeker’s Transitional |
9 19.1% |
5 10.6% |
9 19.1% |
18 38.3% |
6 12.8% |
47 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance -Means |
150 10.4% |
83 5.8% |
194 13.5% |
836 58.1% |
176 12.2% |
1,439 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
47 20.4% |
13 5.7% |
46 20.0% |
83 36.1% |
41 17.8% |
230 |
|
Widow’s/Widower’s Pension (Non-Contributory) |
4 23.5% |
2 11.8% |
- |
10 58.8% |
1 5.9% |
17 |
|
Deserted Wife’s Allowance |
1 100.0% |
-
|
- |
- |
- |
1 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
258 24.6% |
29 2.8% |
179 17.1% |
467 44.6% |
114 10.9% |
1,047 |
|
Farm Assist |
14 11.7% |
11 9.2% |
18 15.0% |
62 51.7% |
15 12.5% |
120 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
1 50.0% |
1 50.0% |
-
|
-
|
- |
2 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
109 18.3% |
33 5.5% |
129 21.6% |
270 45.3% |
55 9.2% |
596 |
|
Deserted Wife’s Benefit |
3 50.0% |
-
|
-
|
3 50.0% |
-
|
6 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
6 11.1% |
-
|
13 24.1% |
34 63.0% |
1 1.9% |
54 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
1 6.3% |
1 6.3% |
-
|
14 87.5% |
-
|
16 |
|
Treatment Benefits |
- |
- |
- |
|
2 100.0% |
2 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
16 50.0% |
-
|
2 6.3% |
13 40.6% |
1 3.1% |
32 |
|
Disability Allowance |
3,112 62.2% |
99 2.0% |
462 9.2% |
1,256 25.1% |
77 1.5% |
5,006 |
|
Blind Pension |
2 14.3% |
2 14.3% |
3 21.4% |
6 42.9% |
1 7.1% |
14 |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
1,047 38.6% |
144 5.3% |
440 16.2% |
989 36.5% |
90 3.3% |
2,710 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
686 43.6% |
13 0.8% |
590 37.5% |
258 16.4% |
25 1.6% |
1,572 |
|
Carer’s Support Grant |
28 20.0% |
5 3.6% |
35 25.0% |
68 48.6% |
4 2.9% |
140 |
|
Illness Benefit |
111 22.4% |
11 2.2% |
164 33.1% |
182 36.8% |
27 5.5% |
495 |
|
Injury Benefit |
10 21.3% |
-
|
6 12.8% |
29 61.7% |
2 4.3% |
47 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
458 41.9% |
8 0.7% |
322 29.4% |
273 25.0% |
33 3.0% |
1,094 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
116 35.3% |
18 5.5% |
32 9.7% |
158 48.0% |
5 1.5% |
329 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
4 80.0% |
-
|
-
|
1 20.0% |
-
|
5 |
|
Medical Care |
- |
-
|
-
|
1 100.0% |
-
|
1 |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
32 23.4% |
4 2.9% |
52 38.0% |
46 33.6% |
3 2.2% |
137 |
|
Child Benefit |
62 14.6% |
18 4.2% |
146 34.3% |
179 42.0% |
21 4.9% |
426 |
|
Working Family Payment* |
59 15.3% |
18 4.7% |
173 44.8% |
116 30.1% |
20 5.2% |
386 |
|
Back To Work Family Dividend |
4 8.5% |
-
|
12 25.5% |
26 55.3% |
5 10.6% |
47 |
|
Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) |
1 11.1% |
1 11.1% |
2 22.2% |
5 55.6% |
-
|
9 |
|
Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) |
7 29.2% |
1 4.2% |
2 8.3% |
14 58.3% |
-
|
24 |
|
Widowed Parent Grant |
-
|
-
|
1 20.0% |
4 80.0% |
-
|
5 |
|
Insurability |
25 26.3% |
3 3.2% |
3 3.2% |
51 53.7% |
13 13.7% |
95 |
|
Liable Relatives |
-
|
-
|
1 20.0% |
2 40.0% |
2 40.0% |
5 |
|
Recoverable Benefits & Assistance |
1 4.3% |
2 8.7% |
2 8.7% |
18 78.3% |
-
|
23 |
|
TOTAL APPEALS |
6,802 36.8% |
662 3.6% |
3,425 18.5% |
6,681 36.1% |
937 5.1% |
18,507
|
* Previously known as Family Income Supplement
