Written answers

Tuesday, 17 February 2009

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Appeals

9:00 pm

Photo of Ciarán LynchCiarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will provide a date for an oral hearing for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5599/09]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The claim for disability allowance, by the person concerned, was refused by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 25 August 2008 on the grounds that he did not satisfy the statutory means assessment for eligibility to this allowance.

An appeal was opened on 24 September 2008 and I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the case was considered by an Appeals Officer on 24 October 2008 who made a summary decision disallowing the appeal.

Summary decisions may be made where the Appeals Officer is of the opinion that a case is of such a nature that it can be properly determined on the basis of documentary evidence and without oral hearing. However, following correspondence from the person concerned, the Appeals Officer has decided to re-open the appeal by way of oral hearing, a date for which has yet to be set.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

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