Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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111. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal against the disallowance of illness benefit will be decided in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [7185/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals office has advised me that the payment of illness benefit to the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.

An appeal was registered on 5th December 2013 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department has been asked to provide the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer's comments on the grounds of the appeal. In that context, the person concerned was invited to attend another examination by a Medical Assessor on the 24^th January 2014. Following this examination the Medical Assessor also expressed the opinion that the person concerned was capable of work. Subsequently the person concerned submitted further medical evidence which was referred back to the Medical Assessor for their opinion on the 5^th February 2014. At present the Social Welfare Appeals Office is awaiting a response from the Medical Assessor.

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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.