Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2011

Department of Social Protection

Social Welfare Appeals

8:00 pm

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal against a decision to deny jobseeker's benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17186/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Jobseeker's Benefit claim for the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer on the grounds that he was not genuinely seeking employment.

The person concerned appealed against this decision. He has not provided any evidence to warrant a change to the original decision and his appeal is currently being processed. A submission is being forwarded to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office for adjudication

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal against the decision to withdraw illness benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; if the social welfare appeals office will agree to hold an oral hearing into this case; and if she will ensure that this appeal is processed promptly. [17194/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 2 October 2010. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 11 May 2011 and the appeal will be referred to an Appeals Officer, in due course, who will decide whether the case can be decided on a summary basis or whether to list it for oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Photo of Ciarán LynchCiarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in Cork, who is in receipt of €188 per week in social welfare payments, is required to pay €50 per week in regard to mortgage supplement payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17200/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the person concerned applied for mortgage interest supplement in November 2010 and that this was refused because it considered it wasn't reasonable to award mortgage interest supplement having regard to any arrears on the loan. This decision was appealed to the HSE's designated Appeals Officer who decided to award a mortgage interest supplement of €70 per week as an exceptional measure on the basis that the person concerned would renegotiate the terms of his mortgage with his financial institution.

The Executive has further advised that it is currently awaiting confirmation that the terms of the mortgage have been renegotiated.

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