Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I reassure Deputies that there is no tendency to refuse applications for carer's allowance or disability allowance in my Department. In fact, the majority of claims are granted at first decision. Approximately 10% of all claim decisions are appealed. Deciding officers are required under legislation to act independently and to make decisions in a fair and impartial manner and in accordance with criteria set in the legislation for the relevant scheme. Ongoing training and guidance is provided to ensure that the deciding officers apply these criteria correctly.

Where claims are disallowed, or allowed at a rate other than the maximum rate, the carer is given an explanation of the basis for the decision in writing. Carers are advised of their right of review and appeal of the decision. The Department has recently started to include the report of its medical assessors in the communication sent to customers. This is to assist them in understanding why the claim may have been disallowed and so that they are fully informed in making an appeal if they wish to do so.

If they make an appeal, this is considered by the social welfare appeals office, which is required under statute to act independently in its decision making. In practice, many appeals received tend to include significant additional information that was not available to the deciding officer at the time the claim was first considered. All appeals are therefore referred back to the Department in the first instance so that the original decision can be reviewed. Approximately half of all cases where the decision is reversed are reversed by the Department itself on the basis of this new information. I, therefore, encourage all people to provide as much information as possible with their claim. I assure them that the Department will take full account of the information provided and will not disallow the claim unless there are good grounds to do so.

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