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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year about 85% of all claims are awarded by the Department and just 1% are appealed.
The attached table sets out the number of appeals that were registered in 2019 and 2020 by scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Appeals received 2019 to 2020
|
2019
|
2020
|
PENSIONS
|
|
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
|
386
|
350
|
State Pension (Contributory)
|
457
|
345
|
State Pension (Transition)
|
-
|
-
|
Widow’s, Widower’s Pension (Contributory)
|
38
|
46
|
Death Benefit
|
1
|
2
|
Bereavement Grant
|
1
|
-
|
TOTAL PENSIONS
|
883
|
743
|
WORKING AGE INCOME & EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS
|
|
|
Jobseeker's Allowance - Payments
|
1,445
|
1,250
|
Jobseeker’s Transitional
|
75
|
83
|
Jobseeker’ Benefit -Self Employed
|
3
|
75
|
Jobseeker's Allowance - Means
|
1,188
|
1,256
|
Pandemic Unemployment Payment
|
-
|
275
|
One Parent Family Payment
|
302
|
272
|
Widow’s, Widower’s Pension (Non-Contributory)
|
17
|
9
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance
|
-
|
1
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
|
888
|
1,052
|
Farm Assist
|
111
|
76
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance
|
-
|
-
|
Jobseeker's Benefit
|
671
|
759
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit
|
6
|
7
|
Maternity Benefit
|
38
|
74
|
Paternity Benefit
|
8
|
32
|
Parent's Benefit
|
-
|
3
|
Adoptive Benefit
|
-
|
-
|
Homemaker’s
|
-
|
-
|
Treatment Benefits
|
2
|
5
|
Partial Capacity Benefit
|
131
|
72
|
TOTAL WORKING AGE - INCOME & EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS
|
4,885
|
5,301
|
ILLNESS, DISABILITY AND CARERS
|
|
|
Disability Allowance
|
6,242
|
6,661
|
Blind Pension
|
15
|
9
|
Carer's Allowance
|
3,006
|
3,630
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance
|
1,656
|
1,690
|
Carer’s Support Grant
|
165
|
201
|
Illness Benefit
|
916
|
984
|
Injury Benefit
|
53
|
83
|
Invalidity Pension
|
1,874
|
2,206
|
Disablement Benefit
|
278
|
169
|
Incapacity Supplement
|
1
|
5
|
Medical Care
|
7
|
6
|
Carer's Benefit
|
244
|
331
|
TOTAL - ILLNESS, DISABILITY AND CARERS
|
14,457
|
15,975
|
|
2019
|
2020
|
PENSIONS
|
|
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
|
386
|
350
|
State Pension (Contributory)
|
457
|
345
|
State Pension (Transition)
|
-
|
-
|
Widow’s, Widower’s Pension (Contributory)
|
38
|
46
|
Death Benefit
|
1
|
2
|
Bereavement Grant
|
1
|
-
|
TOTAL PENSIONS
|
883
|
743
|
WORKING AGE INCOME & EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS
|
|
|
Jobseeker's Allowance - Payments
|
1,445
|
1,250
|
Jobseeker’s Transitional
|
75
|
83
|
Jobseeker’ Benefit -Self Employed
|
3
|
75
|
Jobseeker's Allowance - Means
|
1,188
|
1,256
|
Pandemic Unemployment Payment
|
-
|
275
|
One Parent Family Payment
|
302
|
272
|
Widow’s, Widower’s Pension (Non-Contributory)
|
17
|
9
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance
|
-
|
1
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
|
888
|
1,052
|
Farm Assist
|
111
|
76
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance
|
-
|
-
|
Jobseeker's Benefit
|
671
|
759
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit
|
6
|
7
|
Maternity Benefit
|
38
|
74
|
Paternity Benefit
|
8
|
32
|
Parent's Benefit
|
-
|
3
|
Adoptive Benefit
|
-
|
-
|
Homemaker’s
|
-
|
-
|
Treatment Benefits
|
2
|
5
|
Partial Capacity Benefit
|
131
|
72
|
TOTAL WORKING AGE - INCOME & EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS
|
4,885
|
5,301
|
ILLNESS, DISABILITY AND CARERS
|
|
|
Disability Allowance
|
6,242
|
6,661
|
Blind Pension
|
15
|
9
|
Carer's Allowance
|
3,006
|
3,630
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance
|
1,656
|
1,690
|
Carer’s Support Grant
|
165
|
201
|
Illness Benefit
|
916
|
984
|
Injury Benefit
|
53
|
83
|
Invalidity Pension
|
1,874
|
2,206
|
Disablement Benefit
|
278
|
169
|
Incapacity Supplement
|
1
|
5
|
Medical Care
|
7
|
6
|
Carer's Benefit
|
244
|
331
|
TOTAL - ILLNESS, DISABILITY AND CARERS
|
14,457
|
15,975
|