Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if and when payment will issue in respect of a jobseeker's application in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has been both self employed and a PAYE worker over the past number of years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17764/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Further documentation has been requested from the person concerned in relation to his application for jobseeker's allowance. His application will be processed as soon as the documentation requested is received.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if and when payment will issue in respect of an application for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17767/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Invalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions.

This department received a claim for invalidity pension for the person concerned. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of her claim was examined by a medical assessor who expressed the opinion that the person concerned was not eligible for invalidity pension as she does not satisfy the medical criteria. The application for invalidity pension was, accordingly, disallowed by a deciding officer. The person in question was notified of this decision and the reason for it.

Further medical evidence was subsequently submitted by the claimant. This additional evidence, along with the original information, was evaluated by a different medical assessor who expressed the opinion that the person concerned does not satisfy the medical criteria. The deciding officer found that there were no grounds to overturn the original decision to disallow invalidity pension and the person concerned was notified of the outcome of this review on 9 February 2012.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 495: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a decision on entitlement to disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford. [17770/12]

Joan 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 26th October 2011. 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 01st March 2012 and the appeal will, in due course, be assigned to an Appeals Officer for consideration.

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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 496: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if and when payment will issue in respect of an application for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17788/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned has been awarded carer's allowance with effect from 31 May 2011. The first payment will reach her bank account on 26 April 2012. Arrears due for the intervening period less any other payment made on her behalf for this period, and less any overpayment that may have occurred, if relevant, will issue to her nominated bank account in due course.