John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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342. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of invalidity pension applications that were submitted for appeal in each of the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the percentage success rate of those appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29795/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

The following table provides the details requested by the Deputy in respect of invalidity pension appeals received and finalised from 2016 to 2018.

Overall, 80.6% of the 1,654 invalidity pension appeals which were finalised in 2016 and 78.9% of the 1,348 invalidity pension appeals which were finalised in 2017 had a favourable outcome for the appellant, i.e. were either allowed in full or in part, or resolved by way of a revised decision by a Deciding Officer. 71.1% of the 512 appeals finalised to date in 2018 had a favourable outcome for the appellant.

There are a number of reasons why 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 as was the case in 48.1% of favourable invalidity pension appeal outcomes in 2016, 65% of such outcomes in 2017 and 48.1% of such outcomes to date in 2018. Where the decision was not revised in the Department in light of the appeal contentions, further evidence is often provided by the appellant as the appeal process proceeds and in addition, the Appeals Officer may gain insights when they meet the appellant in person at the oral hearing which may influence the outcome of the appeal.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Appeal Receipts and Percentage Favourable Decisions of Invalidity Pension Appeals Finalised 2016 - 2018