Written answers
Tuesday, 17 January 2017
Department of Social Protection
Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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627. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the waiting period at 31 December 2014, 31 December 2015 and 31 December 2016 for social protection appeals, under each different payment heading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1197/17]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The average appeal processing times for all appeals determined from 2014 to 2016 broken down by all social welfare scheme types is outlined in the following tables.
Significant effort and resources have been devoted to reforming the appeals process in recent years resulting in a marked improvement in overall appeal processing times. The average time taken to determine an appeal requiring an oral hearing reduced from a peak of 52.5 weeks in 2011 to 28.6 weeks in 2014, 25.5 weeks in 2015 and 24.1 weeks in 2016 and the average time taken to finalise an appeal decided by way of a summary decision dropped from 25.1 weeks in 2011 to 21.1 weeks in 2014, 18.1 weeks in 2015 and 17.6 weeks in 2016.
Notwithstanding these improvements, the Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that appeal processing times will continue to be a priority for her office and will continue to be monitored on an ongoing basis.
The quasi-judicial nature of the appeals system means that there are inevitable time-lags involved. However the system is designed to be flexible and fair and allows for review and submission of further information at all stages. The time taken is proportionate to the complexity of many of the issues under appeal which require a high level of judgement, and the need to ensure due process and natural justice.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Appeals processing times by scheme 01/01/2014 – 31/12/14
| - | Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions | Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|---|---|---|
| Adoptive Benefit | 17.1 | - |
| Blind Pension | 20.5 | 24.9 |
| Carers Allowance | 30.1 | 34.4 |
| Carers Benefit | 22.9 | 23.1 |
| Child Benefit | 23.8 | 32.9 |
| Disability Allowance | 20.8 | 26.7 |
| Illness Benefit | 29.5 | 34.8 |
| Domiciliary Care Allowance | 22.6 | 29.1 |
| Deserted Wives Benefit | - | 64.7 |
| Deserted Wives Allowance | - | 41.8 |
| Farm Assist | 23.2 | 28.3 |
| Bereavement Grant | 25.6 | 31.9 |
| Family Income Supplement | 26.0 | 32.6 |
| Invalidity Pension | 25.9 | 31.2 |
| Liable Relatives | 21.5 | 33.2 |
| One Parent Family Payment | 24.4 | 33.5 |
| Maternity Benefit | 22.4 | 44.7 |
| Partial Capacity Benefit | 48.5 | 48.5 |
| State Pension (Contributory) | 25.2 | 41.9 |
| State Pension (Non-Cont) | 20.3 | 29.4 |
| State Pension (Transition) | 27.0 | 35.1 |
| Occupational Injury Benefit | 33.6 | 33.7 |
| Disablement Pension | 23.6 | 30.6 |
| Occupational Injury Benefit (Medical) | - | 53.9 |
| Incapacity Supplement | 21.5 | 59.6 |
| Guardian's Payment (Con) | 25.9 | 24.9 |
| Guardian's Payment (Non-con) | 19.7 | 30.3 |
| Pre Retirement Allowance | 17.3 | - |
| Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) | 18.1 | 27.5 |
| Jobseeker's Allowance | 16.2 | 21.1 |
| JA/JB Fraud Control | 12.1 | - |
| Jobseeker's Benefit | 16.7 | 21.1 |
| Treatment Benefit | 20.8 | - |
| Respite Care Grant | 24.9 | 27.1 |
| Insurability of Employment | 45.0 | 62.3 |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance | 14.4 | 22.1 |
| Survivor's Pension (Con) | 20.2 | 32.5 |
| Survivor's Pension (Non-Con) | 24.7 | 24.6 |
| Widowed Parent Grant | 22.2 | - |
| All Appeals | 21.1 | 28.6 |
Appeals processing times by scheme 01/01/2015 – 31/12/2015
| - | Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions | Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Person’s Pension | 21.1 | 30.7 |
| Carers Allowance | 20.6 | 25.9 |
| Carers Benefit | 19.7 | 21.8 |
| Child Benefit | 24.8 | 34.7 |
| Disability Allowance | 15.8 | 21.4 |
| Illness Benefit | 26.3 | 33.1 |
| Partial Capacity Benefit | 25.7 | 43.4 |
| Domiciliary Care Allowance | 21.7 | 28.7 |
| Deserted Wives Benefit | 19.7 | 26.2 |
| Deserted Wives Allowance | - | 16.2 |
| Farm Assist | 21.0 | 28.6 |
| Bereavement Grant | 65.7 | 26.0 |
| Death Benefit (Pension) | - | 22.6 |
| Family Income Supplement | 19.4 | 27.7 |
| Invalidity Pension | 26.2 | 28.4 |
| Liable Relatives | 22.8 | 31.2 |
| Maternity Benefit | 22.6 | 17.5 |
| One Parent Family Payment | 22.9 | 33.9 |
| State Pension (Contributory) | 26.0 | 46.0 |
| State Pension (Non-Contributory) | 20.4 | 30.8 |
| State Pension (Transition) | 80.1 | 53.4 |
| Occupational Injury Benefit | 20.3 | 35.0 |
| Disablement Pension | 23.7 | 35.3 |
| Incapacity Supplement | 41.2 | 51.5 |
| Guardian's Payment (Con) | 18.2 | 27.5 |
| Guardian's Payment (Non-Con) | 18.7 | 31.0 |
| Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) | 15.8 | 26.0 |
| Jobseeker's Allowance | 15.2 | 21.9 |
| JA/JB Fraud Control | - | 46.1 |
| BTW Family Dividend | 14.1 | - |
| Jobseeker's Transitional | 12.9 | 21.3 |
| Recoverable Benefits & Assistance | 21.0 | 30.3 |
| Jobseeker's Benefit | 14.3 | 21.2 |
| Pre-Retirement Allowance | 15.0 | - |
| Treatment Benefit | 17.9 | - |
| Carer’s Support Grant * | 21.2 | 23.6 |
| Insurability of Employment | 47.6 | 69.4 |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance | 13.1 | 23.5 |
| Survivor's Pension (Con) | 24.1 | 46.6 |
| Survivor's Pension (Non-con) | 23.7 | 38.3 |
| Widows Parent Grant | 18.4 | - |
| All Appeals | 18.1 | 25.5 |
* Previously called Respite Care Grant
Appeals processing times by scheme 01/01/2016 – 31/12/2016
| - | Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions | Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Person’s Pension | 18.2 | 33.8 |
| Carers Allowance | 17.6 | 21.6 |
| Carers Benefit | 20.7 | 22.4 |
| Child Benefit | 22.1 | 38.2 |
| Disability Allowance | 14.6 | 20.1 |
| Illness Benefit | 27.2 | 34.3 |
| Partial Capacity Benefit | 27.3 | 33.6 |
| Domiciliary Care Allowance | 24.3 | 30.6 |
| Deserted Wives Benefit | 13.0 | 32.8 |
| Farm Assist | 21.9 | 26.0 |
| Bereavement Grant | 23.1 | - |
| Death Benefit (Pension) | 19.7 | - |
| Liable Relatives | 14.0 | 16.9 |
| Family Income Supplement | 20.4 | 25.5 |
| Invalidity Pension | 21.3 | 28.2 |
| Maternity Benefit | 18.9 | 21.7 |
| One Parent Family Payment | 21.7 | 31.9 |
| State Pension (Contributory) | 25.6 | 45.9 |
| State Pension (Non-Contributory) | 22.7 | 32.9 |
| State Pension (Transition) | 67.7 | 61.3 |
| Occupational Injury Benefit | 25.0 | 31.9 |
| Disablement Pension | 25.8 | 26.8 |
| Incapacity Supplement | 27.7 | 50.9 |
| Guardian's Payment (Con) | 15.8 | 24.5 |
| Guardian's Payment (Non-Con) | 18.4 | 23.3 |
| Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) | 16.7 | 25.5 |
| Jobseeker's Allowance | 16.0 | 20.9 |
| BTW Family Dividend | 21.0 | - |
| Jobseeker's Transitional | 19.0 | 22.3 |
| Recoverable Benefits & Assistance | 32.5 | 31.6 |
| Jobseeker's Benefit | 16.0 | 27.2 |
| Treatment Benefit | 17.1 | - |
| Carer’s Support Grant * | 18.1 | 23.3 |
| Insurability of Employment | 36.6 | 85.7 |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance | 15.0 | 24.1 |
| Survivor's Pension (Con) | 16.6 | 28.8 |
| Survivor's Pension (Non-con) | 18.4 | 23.4 |
| Widows Parent Grant | 23.5 | 63.8 |
| All Appeals | 17.6 | 24.1 |
* Previously called Respite Care Grant
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