David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs in respect of the various schemes and payments in operation by her Department; the number of claims which were initially refused by a deciding officer which were then allowed by the social welfare appeals office on appeal in 2007 and to date in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31630/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office operates independently of the Department in determining appeals on social welfare entitlements. Of the 13,845 appeals finalised by that Office in 2007, 6,531 (or 47.1%) had a favourable outcome. The corresponding statistics for 2008 to the end of August were 9,830 appeals finalised of which 4,695 (or 47.7%) had a favourable outcome.

Decisions on statutory social welfare schemes are made by statutorily appointed Deciding Officers. They determine entitlement to social insurance and social assistance payments and liability for Pay Related Social Insurance contributions in accordance with the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and regulations. The guidelines, procedures and practices under which such decisions are made are kept under review and changed where necessary. Customers whose claims are disallowed or who are disqualified from payment or awarded social welfare at a reduced rate are informed that if they have any new fact or evidence that has a bearing on their case, they should send it in the first instance to the Deciding Officer for re-examination and, if appropriate, for revision of the decision. They are informed that this right is in addition to their right of appeal to the SWAO. They can seek a Deciding Officer review before making an appeal or can do both concurrently. The right of appeal to the SWAO remains an option if the review by the Deciding Officer is not fruitful.

I welcome the continued commitment of the Social Welfare Appeals Office in providing an accessible and independent review mechanism for people who are dissatisfied with decisions made by the Department.