Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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280. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of carer's allowance applications received in 2018; the number refused and appealed, respectively to the social welfare appeals office; the number overturned by the appeals office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3526/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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During 2018 my Department received 20,122 claims in respect of carer's allowance, it rejected 9,291 claims which did not satisfy the eligibility criteria.

The figures provided for appeals which had a favourable outcome for the appellant relate to appeals which were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer, or which were resolved by way of a revised decision in favour of the appellant by a Deciding Officer/Designated Person are detailed in the attached tabular statement.  

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. 

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 incorrect. It is often the case that new evidence is provided with an appeal and that, as a result, the original decision may be revised by the Deciding Officer or Designated Person.  This was the case in 31.5% of all favourable appeal outcomes in 2018.

Where the decision was not revised by 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 oral hearing which may influence the outcome of the appeal.

Tabular statement

Appeal Receipts and Outcome of Carer’s Allowance Appeals Finalised in 2018