Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is concerned by the refusal rate on invalidity pension applications which is exceptionally high at 87% between January and July 2012. [44560/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Invalidity pension is a payment made to people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. Currently, (to the end September 2012) there are 49,183 people in receipt of payment on this scheme. The refusal rate on invalidity pension claims in the period 1/1/2012 to 30/9/2012 was 64%. The rate of refusal is dependent on the extent to which the claims meet the qualifying conditions for the scheme. In 2011, the corresponding figure was 56%.

The large increase in the number of invalidity pension claims being made in 2011 and 2012 is a major factor in the increased refusal rate. The increased invalidity pension claim intake relates to changes made to the qualifying conditions for short-term illness benefit, which is now limited to a maximum of 2 years. As a consequence, there has been an increase in the number of claimants seeking to avail of the longer term invalidity pension. However, such claimants may not satisfy the medical conditions necessary to establish a permanent incapacity to work and/or may not satisfy the social insurance contribution conditions necessary to qualify for an invalidity pension. People who are refused for any of these reasons may apply/qualify for an alternative social welfare payment.