Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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398. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for the one-parent family payment in the case of a person (details supplied); when the appeal will be concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31144/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 1 May 2020. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 14 October 2020. The case has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required and if Covid-19 restrictions allow, hold an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for 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.