Written answers

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

Department of Social Protection

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Photo of Colm KeaveneyColm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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168. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) in County Galway should be forced to await the processing of an appeal on an invalidity pension application since April 2015 and based on a conversation with the appeals section, it is quite feasible that this delay will extend to April 2016, which will leave the applicant in a state of uncertainly for a twelve month period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40569/15]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the Appeals Officer had referred the case back to a Social Welfare Inspector for further investigation and clarification of certain issues.

The average appeal processing time for 2014 and to date in 2015 broken down by all social welfare scheme types is outlined in the tables below.

Appeal processing times generally peaked in 2011 when the overall average time for an oral hearing was 52.5 weeks and 25.1 weeks for a summary decision. In 2014 average appeal processing times for an oral hearing had almost halved to 28.6 weeks and the average time taken to process appeals involving summary decisions had also significantly reduced to 21.1 weeks. This downward trend in overall appeal processing times has continued to date in 2015 to 25.9 weeks for an oral hearing and 18.3 weeks for a summary decision. Appeal processing times are closely monitored on an ongoing basis.

In the case of invalidity pension appeals the average appeal processing times for an oral hearing has more than halved from 58.9 weeks in 2011 to 28.3 weeks in 2015 and the average time taken to process invalidity pension appeals involving summary decisions has also reduced from 36.4 weeks in 2011 to 25.8 weeks in 2015.

The reduction in processing times reflects the significant resources which have been invested in the Social Welfare Appeals Office over the last number of years.

In addition the Department has undertaken a process of reform in many of its scheme areas aimed at reducing the time taken to respond to requests for submissions in relation to appeals. Appeal processing times are kept under continual review in the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

In addition to the improvement in processing times, these measures have also led to a significant reduction in the number of appeals on hand from 20,414 at 1 January 2013 to 9,454 at 9 November 2015.

Appeal processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation. They include all activities during this period including time spent awaiting any clarification from the appellant, time in the Department for comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal put forward by the appellant, and any further investigation, examination or assessment by the Department’s Inspectors and Medical Assessors that is deemed necessary. The system is flexible and accessible and allows multiple reviews and submissions of fresh evidence at all stages.For logistical reasons the process takes longer when an oral hearing is required.

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.

Appeals processing times by scheme 01/01/2014 – 31/12/14

SchemeAverage processing times (weeks)

Summary Decisions
Average processing times (weeks)

Oral Hearings
Adoptive Benefit17.1-
Blind Pension20.524.9
Carers Allowance30.134.4
Carers Benefit22.923.1
Child Benefit23.832.9
Disability Allowance20.826.7
Illness Benefit29.534.8
Domiciliary Care Allowance22.629.1
Deserted Wives Benefit64.7
Deserted Wives Allowance41.8
Farm Assist23.228.3
Bereavement Grant25.631.9
Family Income Supplement26.032.6
Invalidity Pension25.931.2
Liable Relatives21.533.2
One Parent Family Payment24.433.5
Maternity Benefit22.444.7
Partial Capacity Benefit48.548.5
State Pension (Contributory)25.241.9
State Pension (Non-Cont)20.329.4
State Pension (Transition)27.035.1
Occupational Injury Benefit33.633.7
Disablement Pension23.630.6
Occupational Injury Benefit (Medical)53.9
Incapacity Supplement21.559.6
Guardian's Payment (Con)25.924.9
Guardian's Payment (Non-con)19.730.3
Pre Retirement Allowance17.3
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means)18.127.5
Jobseeker's Allowance16.221.1
JA/JB Fraud Control12.1
Jobseeker's Benefit16.721.1
Treatment Benefit20.8
Respite Care Grant24.927.1
Insurability of Employment45.062.3
Supplementary Welfare Allowance14.422.1
Survivor's Pension (Con)20.232.5
Survivor's Pension (Non-Con)24.724.6
Widowed Parent Grant22.2
All Appeals21.128.6

Appeals processing times by scheme 01/01/2015 – 31/10/2015

SchemeAverage processing times (weeks)

Summary Decisions
Average processing times (weeks)

Oral Hearings
Blind Pension21.135.2
Carers Allowance20.926.9
Carers Benefit20.022.4
Child Benefit24.935.5
Disability Allowance15.921.6
Illness Benefit25.933.6
Partial Capacity Benefit27.043.4
Domiciliary Care Allowance21.228.1
Deserted Wives Benefit19.724.9
Deserted Wives Allowance16.2
Farm Assist19.329.7
Bereavement Grant65.726.0
Death Benefit (Pension)22.6
Family Income Supplement20.327.3
Invalidity Pension25.828.3
Liable Relatives22.531.2
Maternity Benefit20.617.5
One Parent Family Payment23.534.8
State Pension (Contributory)25.948.2
State Pension (Non-Contributory)20.029.7
State Pension (Transition)80.153.4
Occupational Injury Benefit21.638.8
Disablement Pension23.833.2
Incapacity Supplement37.751.5
Guardian's Payment (Con)18.627.8
Guardian's Payment (Non-Con)18.931.0
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means)16.326.2
Jobseeker's Allowance15.621.7
JA/JB Fraud Control 46.1
BTW Family Dividend11.4
Jobseeker's Transitional10.7-
Recoverable Benefits & Assistance12.7-
Jobseeker's Benefit14.821.9
Pre Retirement Allowance15.0
Treatment Benefit17.9
Respite Care Grant20.625.3
Insurability of Employment41.167.6
Supplementary Welfare Allowance13.224.2
Survivor's Pension (Con)29.925.9
Survivor's Pension (Non-con)23.738.3
Widows Parent Grant20.4
All Appeals18.325.9

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