Written answers
Tuesday, 26 March 2019
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Appeals Data
John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1263. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of social welfare appeals that were lodged in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019 by type of appeal per scheme; the percentage of appeals that were allowed for each scheme for each of the years in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13221/19]
Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The following tables provide details of all appeals registered by scheme and the outcome of all appeals finalised for the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019.
Appeals which had a favourable outcome for the appellant consist of 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.
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 37.6% of such successful outcomes in 2017, 31.5% of such outcomes in 2018 and 30.3% of such outcomes to the end of February 2019.
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.
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.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Appeals Received 2017–2019
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 (to 28/2/2019) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Pension (Non-Contributory) | 370 | 347 | 62 |
| State Pension (Contributory) | 408 | 309 | 52 |
| State Pension (Transition) | 3 | Nil | Nil |
| Widow’s, Widower’s Pension (Contributory) | 45 | 38 | 1 |
| Death Benefit | Nil | 1 | Nil |
| Bereavement Grant | 1 | 1 | Nil |
| Jobseeker's Allowance - Payments | 1,676 | 1,570 | 254 |
| Jobseeker’s Transitional | 41 | 70 | 8 |
| Jobseeker's Allowance - Means | 1,504 | 1,380 | 202 |
| One-Parent Family Payment | 244 | 273 | 54 |
| Widow / Widower’s Pension (Non-Contributory) | 23 | 18 | 1 |
| Deserted Wife's Allowance | 1 | 1 | Nil |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance | 1,302 | 859 | 144 |
| Farm Assist | 130 | 84 | 18 |
| Pre-Retirement Allowance | 2 | Nil | Nil |
| Jobseeker's Benefit | 545 | 610 | 109 |
| Deserted Wife's Benefit | 7 | 8 | 1 |
| Maternity Benefit | 84 | 40 | 4 |
| Paternity Benefit | 16 | 14 | 1 |
| Adoptive Benefit | 2 | 1 | Nil |
| Treatment Benefits | 1 | 2 | Nil |
| Partial Capacity Benefit | 38 | 75 | 26 |
| Disability Allowance | 5,077 | 5,200 | 1,040 |
| Blind Pension | 19 | 12 | 1 |
| Carer's Allowance | 3,200 | 2,902 | 639 |
| Domiciliary Care Allowance | 1,199 | 1,432 | 258 |
| Carer’s Support Grant | 164 | 126 | 23 |
| Illness Benefit | 443 | 581 | 199 |
| Injury Benefit | 51 | 44 | 7 |
| Invalidity Pension | 1,381 | 1,387 | 355 |
| Disablement Benefit | 347 | 330 | 73 |
| Incapacity Supplement | 7 | 7 | Nil |
| Medical Care | 2 | 2 | Nil |
| Carer's Benefit | 110 | 162 | 40 |
| Child Benefit | 473 | 485 | 105 |
| Working Family Payment* | 477 | 290 | 219 |
| Back To Work Family Dividend | 43 | 43 | 6 |
| Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) | 16 | 8 | 2 |
| Guardian's Payment (Contributory) | 34 | 22 | 1 |
| Widowed Parent Grant | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Insurability Of Employment | 132 | 86 | 6 |
| Liable Relative | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| Recoverable Benefits & Assistance | 25 | 29 | 1 |
| TOTAL – ALL APPEALS | 19,658 | 18,854 | 3,914 |
Outcome of Appeals by Category 2017
| Allowed By Appeals Officers | Partially Allowed By Appeals Officers | Revised DO/DP Decision | Disallowed By Appeals Officers | Withdrawn | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Pension (Non-Contributory) | 75 21.9% | 34 9.9% | 78 22.7% | 128 37.3% | 28 8.2% | 343 |
| State Pension (Contributory) | 35 9.9% | 12 3.4% | 76 21.5% | 218 61.6% | 13 3.7% | 354 |
| State Pension (Transition) | 1 33.3% | Nil | Nil | 2 66.7% | Nil | 3 |
| Widow’s / Widower’s Pension (Contributory) | 8 25.8% | Nil | 7 22.6% | 15 48.4% | 1 3.2% | 31 |
| Death Benefit | Nil | Nil | Nil | 1 100.0% | Nil | 1 |
| Bereavement Grant | 1 100.0% | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | 1 |
| Jobseeker’s Allowance - Payments | 349 22.2% | 66 4.2% | 309 19.6% | 665 42.3% | 184 11.7% | 1,573 |
| Jobseeker’s Transitional | 10 27.0% | 4 10.8% | 10 27.0% | 6 16.2% | 7 18.9% | 37 |
| Jobseeker’s Allowance - Means | 187 12.9% | 82 5.6% | 264 18.2% | 708 48.7% | 212 14.6% | 1,453 |
| One-Parent Family Payment | 67 26.1% | 19 7.4% | 54 21.0% | 67 26.1% | 50 19.5% | 257 |
| Widow’s / Widower’s Pension (Non-Contributory) | 7 30.4% | 4 17.4% | 3 13.0% | 9 39.1% | Nil | 23 |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance | 304 22.5% | 34 2.5% | 229 17.0% | 602 44.6% | 180 13.3% | 1,349 |
| Farm Assist | 22 15.5% | 18 12.7% | 28 19.7% | 60 42.3% | 14 9.9% | 142 |
| Pre-Retirement Allowance | Nil | Nil | 1 100.0% | Nil | Nil | 1 |
| Jobseeker’s Benefit | 83 17.3% | 21 4.4% | 117 24.4% | 206 43.0% | 52 10.9% | 479 |
| Deserted Wife’s Benefit | 2 40.0% | 1 20.0% | Nil | 2 40.0% | Nil | 5 |
| Maternity Benefit | 10 14.1% | 3 4.2% | 8 11.3% | 49 69.0% | 1 1.4% | 71 |
| Paternity Benefit | 1 12.5% | Nil | 3 37.5% | 3 37.5% | 1 12.5% | 8 |
| Adoptive Benefit | Nil | Nil | Nil | 2 100.0% | Nil | 2 |
| Treatment Benefits | Nil | Nil | Nil | 1 100.0% | Nil | 1 |
| Partial Capacity Benefit | 15 33.3% | 1 2.2% | 11 24.4% | 14 31.1% | 4 8.9% | 45 |
| Disability Allowance | 2,975 60.3% | 70 1.4% | 563 11.4% | 1,211 24.5% | 115 2.3% | 4,934 |
| Blind Pension | 1 6.7% | 1 6.7% | 3 20.0% | 7 46.7% | 3 20.0% | 15 |
| Carer’s Allowance | 1,204 35.2% | 161 4.7% | 780 22.8% | 1,199 35.1% | 72 2.1% | 3,416 |
| Domiciliary Care Allowance | 297 37.1% | 10 1.2% | 343 42.8% | 135 16.9% | 16 2.0% | 801 |
| Carer’s Support Grant | 35 22.6% | 2 1.3% | 45 29.0% | 72 46.5% | 1 0.6% | 155 |
| Illness Benefit | 118 23.0% | 8 1.6% | 140 27.2% | 189 36.8% | 59 11.5% | 514 |
| Injury Benefit | 3 7.9% | Nil | 2 5.3% | 27 71.1% | 6 15.8% | 38 |
| Invalidity Pension | 365 27.1% | 7 0.5% | 691 51.3% | 262 19.4% | 23 1.7% | 1,348 |
| Disablement Benefit | 86 34.4% | 19 7.6% | 30 12.0% | 109 43.6% | 6 2.4% | 250 |
| Incapacity Supplement | 3 30.0% | 1 10.0% | 3 30.0% | 3 30.0% | Nil | 10 |
| Medical Care | Nil | Nil | 1 50.0% | 1 50.0% | Nil | 2 |
| Carer’s Benefit | 23 22.1% | 2 1.9% | 39 37.5% | 37 35.6% | 3 2.9% | 104 |
| Child Benefit | 68 15.5% | 23 5.3% | 154 35.2% | 178 40.6% | 15 3.4% | 438 |
| Family Income Supplement | 76 15.1% | 15 3.0% | 267 53.1% | 130 25.8% | 15 3.0% | 503 |
| Back To Work Family Dividend | 7 17.1% | Nil | 4 9.8% | 25 61.0% | 5 12.2% | 41 |
| Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) | 5 33.3% | 1 6.7% | 2 13.3% | 7 46.7% | Nil | 15 |
| Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) | 13 39.4% | 2 6.1% | 4 12.1% | 14 42.4% | Nil | 33 |
| Widowed Parent Grant | Nil | Nil | Nil | 2 100.0% | Nil | 2 |
| Insurability | 34 24.5% | 4 2.9% | 11 7.9% | 37 26.6% | 53 38.1% | 139 |
| Liable Relatives | Nil | 4 23.5% | Nil | 11 64.7% | 2 11.8% | 17 |
| Recoverable Benefits & Assistance | 3 11.5% | Nil | 3 11.5% | 20 76.9% | Nil | 26 |
| TOTAL APPEALS | 6,493 34.2% | 629 3.3% | 4,283 22.6% | 6,434 33.9% | 1,141 6.0% | 18,980 |
Outcome of Appeals by Category 2018
| Allowed By Appeals Officers | Partially Allowed By Appeals Officers | Revised DO/DP Decision | Disallowed By Appeals Officers | Withdrawn | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Pension (Non-Contributory) | 85 23.4% | 29 8.0% | 70 19.3% | 144 39.7% | 35 9.6% | 363 |
| State Pension (Contributory) | 35 9.5% | 9 2.5% | 64 17.4% | 244 66.5% | 15 4.1% | 367 |
| Widow’s / Widower’s Pension (Contributory) | 18 45.0% | Nil | 2 5.0% | 14 35.0% | 6 15.0% | 40 |
| Death Benefit | Nil | Nil | Nil | 1 100.0% | Nil | 1 |
| Bereavement Grant | Nil | Nil | Nil | 1 100.0% | Nil | 1 |
| Jobseeker’s Allowance - Payments | 280 18.0% | 99 6.4% | 251 16.1% | 785 50.4% | 141 9.1% | 1,556 |
| Jobseeker’s Transitional | 9 19.1% | 5 10.6% | 9 19.1% | 18 38.3% | 6 12.8% | 47 |
| Jobseeker’s Allowance - Means | 150 10.4% | 83 5.8% | 194 13.5% | 836 58.1% | 176 12.2% | 1,439 |
| One-Parent Family Payment | 47 20.4% | 13 5.7% | 46 20.0% | 83 36.1% | 41 17.8% | 230 |
| Widow’s/Widower’s Pension (Non-Contributory) | 4 23.5% | 2 11.8% | Nil | 10 58.8% | 1 5.9% | 17 |
| Deserted Wife’s Allowance | 1 100.0% | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | 1 |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance | 258 24.6% | 29 2.8% | 179 17.1% | 467 44.6% | 114 10.9% | 1,047 |
| Farm Assist | 14 11.7% | 11 9.2% | 18 15.0% | 62 51.7% | 15 12.5% | 120 |
| Pre-Retirement Allowance | 1 50.0% | 1 50.0% | Nil | Nil | Nil | 2 |
| Jobseeker’s Benefit | 109 18.3% | 33 5.5% | 129 21.6% | 270 45.3% | 55 9.2% | 596 |
| Deserted Wife’s Benefit | 3 50.0% | Nil | Nil | 3 50.0% | Nil | 6 |
| Maternity Benefit | 6 11.1% | Nil | 13 24.1% | 34 63.0% | 1 1.9% | 54 |
| Paternity Benefit | 1 6.3% | 1 6.3% | Nil | 14 87.5% | Nil | 16 |
| Treatment Benefits | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | 2 100.0% | 2 |
| Partial Capacity Benefit | 16 50.0% | Nil | 2 6.3% | 13 40.6% | 1 3.1% | 32 |
| Disability Allowance | 3,112 62.2% | 99 2.0% | 462 9.2% | 1,256 25.1% | 77 1.5% | 5,006 |
| Blind Pension | 2 14.3% | 2 14.3% | 3 21.4% | 6 42.9% | 1 7.1% | 14 |
| Carer’s Allowance | 1,047 38.6% | 144 5.3% | 440 16.2% | 989 36.5% | 90 3.3% | 2,710 |
| Domiciliary Care Allowance | 686 43.6% | 13 0.8% | 590 37.5% | 258 16.4% | 25 1.6% | 1,572 |
| Carer’s Support Grant | 28 20.0% | 5 3.6% | 35 25.0% | 68 48.6% | 4 2.9% | 140 |
| Illness Benefit | 111 22.4% | 11 2.2% | 164 33.1% | 182 36.8% | 27 5.5% | 495 |
| Injury Benefit | 10 21.3% | Nil | 6 12.8% | 29 61.7% | 2 4.3% | 47 |
| Invalidity Pension | 458 41.9% | 8 0.7% | 322 29.4% | 273 25.0% | 33 3.0% | 1,094 |
| Disablement Benefit | 116 35.3% | 18 5.5% | 32 9.7% | 158 48.0% | 5 1.5% | 329 |
| Incapacity Supplement | 4 80.0% | Nil | Nil | 1 20.0% | Nil | 5 |
| Medical Care | Nil | Nil | Nil | 1 100.0% | Nil | 1 |
| Carer’s Benefit | 32 23.4% | 4 2.9% | 52 38.0% | 46 33.6% | 3 2.2% | 137 |
| Child Benefit | 62 14.6% | 18 4.2% | 146 34.3% | 179 42.0% | 21 4.9% | 426 |
| Working Family Payment* | 59 15.3% | 18 4.7% | 173 44.8% | 116 30.1% | 20 5.2% | 386 |
| Back To Work Family Dividend | 4 8.5% | Nil | 12 25.5% | 26 55.3% | 5 10.6% | 47 |
| Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) | 1 11.1% | 1 11.1% | 2 22.2% | 5 55.6% | Nil | 9 |
| Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) | 7 29.2% | 1 4.2% | 2 8.3% | 14 58.3% | Nil | 24 |
| Widowed Parent Grant | Nil | Nil | 1 20.0% | 4 80.0% | Nil | 5 |
| Insurability | 25 26.3% | 3 3.2% | 3 3.2% | 51 53.7% | 13 13.7% | 95 |
| Liable Relatives | Nil | Nil | 1 20.0% | 2 40.0% | 2 40.0% | 5 |
| Recoverable Benefits & Assistance | 1 4.3% | 2 8.7% | 2 8.7% | 18 78.3% | Nil | 23 |
| TOTAL APPEALS | 6,802 36.8% | 662 3.6% | 3,425 18.5% | 6,681 36.1% | 937 5.1% | 18,507 |
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