Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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50. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine and expedite an application for an illness benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, given that this application has been pending for a long time and the person recently had an assessment with the medical assessor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20957/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that there is no appeal registered for Illness Benefit by the person concerned, however an appeal for Disability Allowance by the person concerned was registered in that office on 12 March 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 23 April 2015 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

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.