John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 912: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo had their illness benefit removed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34368/09]

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 he was capable of work. An appeal was opened and in the context of that appeal, his case was reviewed by a second Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that he 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 him an opportunity of setting out the complete and up to date grounds of his appeal. On receipt of his response the relevant departmental papers will be requested from the Department and the appeal will then be referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration.

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.