Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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126. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of decisions to refuse for jobseeker’s allowance, illness benefit and disability that have been overturned or otherwise following further appeal or review thereof; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15382/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.

The table below provides details of the outcomes of all finalised appeals in respect of Jobseeker's Allowance, Illness Benefit and Disability Allowance for the year 2021.

There are a number of reasons why a decision which was refused at first instance might be successful on appeal and it is not necessarily the case that the first decision was incorrect. It is often the case that new evidence is provided with an appeal and that, as a result, the original decision may be revised by the Deciding Officer or Designated Person. Where the decision is not revised by the Department in light of the appeal contentions, further evidence is often provided by the person concerned over the course of the appeal process and this may lead to the appeal being allowed or partly allowed by the Appeals Officer.

Appeal Outcomes 2021

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.