Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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217. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of invalidity and disability payment applications in 2017; the number approved originally; the number refused and subsequently approved under review; the number approved under appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27120/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The following are the numbers of Carer’s Allowance applications made in 2017 (‘registered’), the number of claims awarded in the year (‘awarded’), and the number of applications rejected in the year (‘rejected’). Note that some of the awarded and rejected outcomes are in respect of claims registered prior to 2017, and that the same claim may appear in both the ‘awarded’ and ‘rejected’ columns in some instances.

Invalidity Pension and Disability Allowance applications, full year 2017

73.1% of the 1,348 Invalidity Pension appeals which were finalised in 2017 had a favourable outcome for the appellant, i.e. they were either allowed in full or in part, or resolved by way of a revised decision by a Deciding Officer/Designated Person. Meanwhile, 73.1% of the 4,934 Disability Allowance appeals which were finalised in 2017 had a favourable outcome for the appellant.

These rates are higher than the overall 60.1% favourable outcome rate for the 23,220 appeals which were finalised in 2017 in respect of all social welfare payments.

There are a number of reasons a decision which was refused at first instance might be successful on appeal and it is not necessarily the case that the first decision was wrong.

Where new evidence is provided with an appeal, the original decision may be revised by the Deciding Officer or Designated Person. This is particularly the case in appeals relating to illness and disability payments as appellants routinely supply additional medical evidence which they did not submit to the Department at initial claim or review stage.

This was the case in 65% of favourable invalidity pension appeal outcomes and 15.6% of favourable disability allowance appeal outcomes in 2017.

Where the decision is not revised in the Department in light of the appeal contentions, further evidence is often provided by the appellant as the appeal process proceeds. In addition, the Appeals Officer may gain insights when they meet the appellant in person at oral hearing which may also influence the outcome of the appeal.

Favourable Appeal Outcomes 2017