Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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291. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an independent medical officer can assess the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27421/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. Permanently incapable of work is defined as an incapacity for work of such a nature that the likelihood is that the claimant will be incapable of work for life or an incapacity which has existed for 12 months prior to the date of claim and where the Deciding Officer or Appeals Officer is satisfied that the claimant is likely to be unable to work for 1 year from the date of the claim.

The Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 8 October 2020. The person concerned was refused IP on 16 November 2020 on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. Upon receipt of additional medical evidence, this was reviewed by a separate medical Deciding Officer on the 17 December who also refused the claim on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. The person in question appealed the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) who upheld the Department’s decision and disallowed the appeal. The person in question was notified of this decision on 18 February 2021.

On the 27 April 2021 the Social Welfare Appeals Office requested the file for a Review of the decision under Section 318 by the Chief Appeals Officer. The original Appeals officer's decision was upheld.

It is open to the person concerned to reapply for an Invalidity Pension.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.