Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if the application will be expedited due to financial hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37213/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 30 March 2011. Medical evidence supplied with his claim was referred to one of the department’s medical assessors who was of the opinion, based on the information supplied, that he was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion. The deciding officer decided, furthermore, that the person concerned has weekly means in excess of the statutory limit allowable for disability allowance purposes. The claim was refused and the person was notified in writing of this decision.

He subsequently appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeal Office. The appeals officer decided that, while the person was medically suitable for disability allowance, his weekly means were in excess of the statutory limits allowable and the appeal was disallowed. The person was notified in writing of this decision on 16 July 2012. An appeals officer’s decision is final and conclusive in the absence of any fresh facts or evidence.