Written answers
Tuesday, 23 May 2023
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Appeals
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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499. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of cases referred to appeal in respect of all means-tested payments; the extent to which such cases are successful on appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24997/23]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision-making functions.
The table below outlines the total number of appeals received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office in 2022 in respect of all means-tested payments.
Scheme | Received |
|---|---|
| Blind Pension | 13 |
| Carer's Allowance | 3,521 |
| Disability Allowance | 5,637 |
| Farm Assist | 76 |
| Jobseeker's Transitional Payment | 126 |
| State Pension (Non-Contributory) | 313 |
| One Parent Family Payment | 339 |
| Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) | 22 |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance | 1,005 |
| Jobseeker's Allowance | 2,721 |
| Widow(er)'s Pension (Non-Contributory) | 19 |
| Total | 13,792 |
The table below provides a breakdown of appeals relating to means tested schemes with a favourable outcome for the appellant in 2022.
| Scheme | Allowedby Appeals Officer | Part-Allowedby Appeals Officer | Revised Decisionby Deciding Officer | Total Favourableon appeal | Total Decisions | % Favourable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blind Pension | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 38% |
| Carer's Allowance | 804 | 67 | 520 | 1,391 | 3,388 | 41% |
| Disability Allowance | 2,348 | 74 | 722 | 3,144 | 5,435 | 58% |
| Farm Assist | 10 | 8 | 22 | 40 | 82 | 49% |
| Jobseeker's Transitional Payment | 9 | 3 | 31 | 43 | 105 | 41% |
| State Pension (Non-Contributory) | 34 | 24 | 70 | 128 | 304 | 42% |
| One Parent Family Payment | 24 | 8 | 114 | 146 | 305 | 48% |
| Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) | 5 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 20 | 75% |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance | 111 | 20 | 144 | 275 | 925 | 30% |
| Jobseeker's Allowance | 212 | 72 | 686 | 970 | 2,578 | 71% |
| Widow(er)'s Pension (Non-Contributory) | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 24% |
| Total | 3,558 | 280 | 2,323 | 6,161 | 13,172 | 47% |
All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year about 85% of all claims are awarded by the Department and approximately 1% are appealed. The Department endeavours to ensure that these cases are dealt with as quickly as possible.
There is active engagement between the Appeals Office and the Department to ensure that the appeals process operates efficiently and that where the Deciding Officer's decision is not revised in favour of the appellant that the appeal file papers are provided as quickly as possible to the Appeals Office for consideration by an Appeals Officer.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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