Written answers
Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Appeals
Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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172. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current timeline for social welfare appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8931/23]
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 average processing time for all appeals finalised in 2022 was 14.9 weeks. The current* average processing time for an appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office is 17.4 weeks for summary decision, or 33.0 weeks for decision by way of oral hearing.
*Figures based on January 2023.
The first table below provides the average processing time for appeals concluded (both summary decisions and decisions following oral hearings) in each month for the period 1 January to 31 December 2022.
The second table provides the average processing times for appeals concluded in January 2023.
Appeal processing times 2022 (weeks)
| - | Summary Decision | Oral Hearing |
|---|---|---|
| January | 14.2 | 26.1 |
| February | 12.5 | 19.5 |
| March | 13.6 | 22.8 |
| April | 18.9 | 24.1 |
| May | 15.2 | 23.7 |
| June | 17.1 | 30.3 |
| July | 14.1 | 28.4 |
| August | 14.5 | 30.5 |
| September | 15.2 | 22.5 |
| October | 14.8 | 29.3 |
| November | 15.3 | 28.6 |
| December | 14.7 | 25.1 |
Appeal processing times January 2023 (weeks)
| - | Summary Decision | Oral Hearing |
|---|---|---|
| January | 17.4 | 33.0 |
Significant efforts and resources have been devoted to reforming the appeal process in recent years. As a result, average appeal processing times have generally improved between 2018 and 2022 from 30.0 weeks for an oral hearing in 2018 to 26.0 weeks in 2022, and from 24.8 weeks for a summary decision in 2018 to 15.0 weeks in 2022. Further improvements in appeals processing times are a priority for the Chief Appeals Officer.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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173. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason social welfare applicants who have submitted appeals are not receiving the standard acknowledgment letters from the social welfare appeals office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8932/23]
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 it is standard practice in the Office to issue an acknowledgement on registration of an appeal notice. Paper/postal applications receive a paper letter by post in response and electronic applications receive an email reply in response.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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