Written answers
Wednesday, 12 July 2017
Department of Social Protection
Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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438. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she can continue to improve the time taken to process appeals in respect of various social protection payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33500/17]
Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The average appeal processing times for all appeals determined from 2014 to date in 2017 broken down by all social welfare scheme types is outlined in the tables below.
The time taken to process an appeal reflects all aspects of the appeal process including the time spent in the Department preparing the appeal submission. The quasi-judicial nature of the system impacts on appeal processing times which are proportionate to the complexity of many of the issues under appeal which often require a high level of judgement, in addition to the need to ensure due process and natural justice.
Overall appeal processing times peaked in 2011/2012 and have improved year on year since then. For example, the average time taken to determine an appeal requiring an oral hearing reduced from 52.5 weeks in 2011 to 28.6 weeks in 2014, 25.5 weeks in 2015, 24.1 weeks in 2016 and 25 weeks to date in 2017. The average time taken to finalise an appeal decided by way of a summary decision reduced from 25.1 weeks in 2011 to 21.1 weeks in 2014, 18.1 weeks in 2015, 17.6 weeks in 2016 and 18.5 weeks to date in 2017.
The Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that every effort will be made to continue to improve appeal processing times and that this will continue to be a priority for her office.
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
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