Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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124. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6071/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In a state pension entitlement review following the death of the recipient, the Department, for reasons of confidentiality, can only correspond or communicate with the legal representative or personal representative of the deceased.

According to the records of the Department, the person on whose behalf the Deputy is enquiring is not the named executor or personal representative in this case. If, however, a signed authorisation is provided by the executor/personal representative facilitating the provision of information to another person, the Department will contact the person concerned without delay and inform them of the current position in the case.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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125. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a pension application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6148/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal in respect of the person concerned was registered by that Office on 25 June 2020. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. The file papers were received from the Department on 30 October 2020 and the appeal was referred to an Appeals Officer on 3 November 2020.

The Appeals Officer in their consideration of the case has requested additional documentation which was sought by a letter issued on 1 February 2021 to both the person concerned and their representative. The Appeals Officer, on receipt of a reply to this correspondence, will consider it in relation to making a decision on the appeal as soon as possible.   

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.