Written answers

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Department of Social Protection

Social Welfare Appeals

9:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if and when an appeal will be heard in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in respect of an application for domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21189/12]

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 16 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 04th April 2012 and the appeal will be assigned to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an 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 Anne FerrisAnne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 315: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21192/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned was refused disability allowance following an assessment by a Medical Assessor who expressed the opinion that he was medically unsuitable for the allowance. He was also disallowed on the grounds that his weekly means exceeded the statutory limit allowable for disability allowance purposes. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal was registered on 29th February 2012 and in accordance with the statutory procedures the relevant department papers and the comments by or on behalf 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 huge increase in the numbers of appeals to the office has also resulted in a large backlog in dealing with correspondence, which is dealt with in chronological order. While this is regretted, priority in the office is given to the registration and preparation of files for appeals, scheduling oral hearings and the issue of decisions. 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.

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