Claire Kerrane
Ceist:1182. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average waiting times for applications for social welfare supports, including appeals. [44150/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 8 September 2022
Ceisteanna (1182)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department understands the many pressures faced by customers and always seeks to ensure that claims are handled quickly and efficiently. I am pleased to report that claim processing is up to date, with processing targets met, or exceeded, on average for all the main scheme areas.
Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments can also require more detailed investigations and interaction with the customer, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.
Overall, I am pleased that my Department continues to ensure that the customer service has been maintained at a high level, notwithstanding the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The current average processing times across the schemes, and associated appeals, is outlined in the table below:
|
Social Welfare Scheme |
Weeks to Award claims |
Weeks for Summary Appeals |
Weeks for Oral Appeals |
|
Carer's Allowance |
6 |
11.8 |
18.3 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
8 |
11.5 |
19.8 |
|
Child Benefit |
5 |
26.1 |
24.8 |
|
Disability Allowance |
7 |
11.4 |
20.8 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
9 |
21.5 |
33.1 |
|
Free Travel |
4 |
- |
- |
|
Household Benefits |
1 |
- |
- |
|
Illness Benefit |
1 |
15.1 |
20.3 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
6 |
13.8 |
15.7 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
1 |
12.9 |
36.6 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit |
1 |
12.8 |
24 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
6 |
11.7 |
20.9 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
1 |
22.5 |
- |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
3 |
16.5 |
22.9 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
6 |
13.6 |
- |
|
State Pension Contributory |
5 |
18.6 |
45.2 |
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
4 |
23 |
57.4 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
1 |
14.5 |
32.5 |
|
Widows Contributory Pension |
1 |
15.5 |
58.7 |
|
Working Family Payment |
3 |
17 |
65.4 |
The Department has introduced a wide range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximized.
In addition, the staffing needs of the Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.
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.
Average appeal processing times have generally improved in recent years from 30.0 weeks for an oral hearing in 2018 to 25.5 weeks in 2021, and from 24.8 weeks for a summary decision in 2018 to 13.9 weeks in 2021. The equivalent figures for the period January – August 2022 are 25.6 weeks for an oral hearing and 15.0 weeks for a summary decision. Further improvements in appeals processing times are a priority for the Chief Appeals Officer.
It should be noted that due to the nature of the processing of appeals (particularly those involving an oral hearing), the processing times for a very small proportion of cases can be lengthy. This can have a disproportionate effect on the average processing time for a particular category of appeal if there are no or very few cases of a more typical processing time in that category.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.