Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 611: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a jobseeker's allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18827/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned submitted an application for Jobseeker's Allowance on 9 June 2009. The claim was disallowed as the customer failed to disclose means. The decision was appealed to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office in August 2009. The Appeals Officer upheld the decision to disallow the claim in January 2011.

While the person concerned received Supplementary Welfare Allowance from July 2009 to end December 2010, there is no record of any new application or contact from the person concerned in over 12 months.

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 612: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal for rent allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18829/12]

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 28 February 2012. 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 22 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.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 613: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal against the decision to refuse an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18830/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the disability allowance claim of the person concerned was disallowed following an assessment by a Medical Assessor who expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable for the allowance. An appeal was registered on 15 March 2012 and in accordance with the statutory procedures the relevant department papers and the comments of the Deciding Officer on the matter raised in the appeal have been sought. In that context, an assessment by another Medical Assessor will be carried out.

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