Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on the invalidity review appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53633/22]

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.

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the Invalidity Pension appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 23 March 2022.

Under social welfare legislation the decision of an Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. I am advised that the person concerned subsequently submitted additional evidence and that the Appeals Officer agreed to review the appeal decision on foot of this additional evidence. The Appeals Officer did not find any new facts or fresh evidence which warranted a revision of his earlier decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 28/07/22.

Subsequently, the person concerned submitted more evidence and the Appeals Officer again agreed to undertake a review. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of her appeal has been finalised.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.