Written answers

Tuesday, 9 October 2012

Department of Social Protection

Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average length of time taken by the Social Welfare Appeals Office to process appeals in respect of applications for invalidity pension, disability allowance, carer's allowance, domiciliary care allowance and jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42959/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The current processing times of appeals in respect of applications for invalidity pension, disability allowance, carer's allowance, domiciliary care allowance and jobseeker's allowance at the end of September 2012 are listed in the table below.

Generally the vast majority of cases fall within these average times but extenuating factors, often outside of the control of the Social Welfare Appeals Office, will cause greater delays in some cases.

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, from about early 2009 the number of appeals received by that Office has increased dramatically and by 2011 had more than doubled from an average of 15,000 pa to. 31,241 in 2011. A further 27,089 have been received for the period January to September this year. These increases have significantly impacted on the time taken to process appeals.

In an effort to reduce the processing times for all appeals, the Department has appointed 13 additional Appeals Officers since 2010. In addition, a further 10 Appeals Officers, formerly employed by the Community Welfare Services (CWS) of the Health Services Executive joined the Office as part of the integration of the CWS appeals services into the Social Welfare Appeals Office, bringing the total number of Appeals Officers now serving in the Office to 40. In addition to this the Office has improved its business processes and IT support.

I am assured by the Chief Appeals Officer that she is keeping the methods of operation by which the Social Welfare Appeals Office conducts its business under constant review, and that the processes are continuously being enhanced to reduce the backlogs in the Office and, overall, to reduce the processing times for dealing with appeals.

Appeals processing times by scheme September 2012 Summary and Oral

Scheme
Average processing times (weeks)Summary Decisions
Average processing

times (weeks)

Oral Hearings
Invalidity Pension
37.8
39.4
Disability Allowance
35.9
39.8
Carers Allowance
34.2
41.4
Domiciliary Care
35.5
40.9
Jobseeker's Allowance Payments
25.8
33.5
Jobseeker's Allowance Means
23.4
34.7

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.