Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 869: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding a claim for disability allowance by a person (details provided) in County Tipperary. [33318/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

An application for disability allowance, by the person concerned, was refused following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable for the allowance. 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 medically unsuitable.

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