Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an appeal for backdated State pension (contributory) will be finalised considering that the appeal has been ongoing since August 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8578/22]

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 3 August 2021.  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. Those papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 6 October 2021 and the case was referred on 11 October 2021 to an Appeals Officer .

The Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing. A decision on this case will be issued 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.