Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will confirm receipt of an appeal of a refusal of disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; when this appeal will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32024/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Payment of illness benefit, to the person concerned, was discontinued following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. An appeal was opened and in the context of that appeal, her case was reviewed by a second Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.

I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in the light of this second medical opinion, that office decided to afford her an opportunity of setting out the complete and up to date grounds of her appeal. In addition to her grounds of appeal the person concerned has submitted additional medical evidence which has been forwarded to the Chief Medical Assessor for his opinion.

The person concerned has also submitted an Invalidity Pension appeal which is being similarly processed.

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