Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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502. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal in the case of a person (details supplied); if the situation will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8649/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that two appeals (for supplementary welfare allowance and for disability allowance) were registered in that office on 29 September 2020 and 26 November 2020 respectively. 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 Social Protection. The papers in respect of the supplementary welfare allowance appeal were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 29 October 2020 and referred to an Appeals Officer on 9 December 2020. The papers in respect of the disability allowance appeal were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 11 January 2021 and referred to an Appeals Officer on 21 January 2021.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal cases are now being finalised and the person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decisions imminently.

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.