Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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337. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason an entitlement to an invalidity pension is being questioned in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 in view of the fact that this person received correspondence from her Department citing they were seeking a review of this entitlement before the claimant received their first payment; the rationale for this review; and if such a protocol is laid out in the operational guidelines for this payment. [2499/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Invalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions.

This Department received a claim for invalidity pension for the person concerned on 26 May 2011. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of her claim was examined by a medical assessor who was of the opinion that the person concerned was not eligible for invalidity pension as she did not satisfy the medical criteria. The application for invalidity pension was, accordingly, disallowed by a deciding officer on 14 October 2011. The applicant was notified of this decision and of her right to request a review of the decision and also of her right to lodge an appeal with the social welfare appeals office.

The person’s entitlement to invalidity pension was reviewed by a deciding officer and she was awarded an invalidity pension on 10 December 2012 from 26 May 2011.

As it is the opinion of a medical assessor of the Department, based on the medical evidence provided by the person concerned, that the claimant’s condition is or was likely to improve or stabilise, her claim has been sent for a routine medical review.

Invalidity recipients are routinely reviewed to confirm continuing eligibility.