I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together.
My Department does not distinguish between claims awarded following registration, claims awarded and subsequently disallowed or on claims that are awarded following review. Detailed information on claims awarded, claims rejected, claims withdrawn and total claims registered are available in the Annual Statistics report at www.gov.ie/dsp/statistics.
Claims awarded on appeal are managed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office which 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.
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 2% are appealed.
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 was not revised by the Department in light of the appeal contentions, further evidence is often provided by the person concerned as the appeal process proceeds and in addition, the Appeals Officer may gain insights when they meet the person concerned in person at oral hearing which may influence the outcome of the appeal.
Table 1 below shows the outcome of appeals finalised by assistance scheme in 2021.
|
Allowed
|
Partially Allowed
|
Revised Decision
|
Disallowed
|
With
drawn
|
Total
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance - Payments
|
181
|
40
|
233
|
577
|
144
|
1,175
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance -Means
|
65
|
33
|
141
|
506
|
146
|
891
|
Jobseeker’s Transitional
|
11
|
6
|
20
|
38
|
18
|
93
|
Farm Assist
|
6
|
4
|
12
|
41
|
9
|
72
|
One Parent Family Payment
|
56
|
10
|
56
|
98
|
29
|
249
|
Widow’s/Widower’s Pension (Non-Contributory)
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
8
|
0
|
12
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
|
182
|
27
|
121
|
486
|
70
|
886
|
Disability Allowance
|
2,611
|
101
|
643
|
2,178
|
42
|
5,575
|
Blind Pension
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
14
|
0
|
17
|
Carer’s Allowance
|
886
|
95
|
519
|
1,743
|
24
|
3,267
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance
|
533
|
25
|
484
|
338
|
5
|
1,385
|
Working Family Payment
|
106
|
10
|
610
|
300
|
95
|
1,121
|
Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
10
|
-
|
16
|
Table 2 below shows the outcome of appeals finalised by benefit in 2021.
Benefit
|
Allowed
|
Partially
Allowed
|
Revised Decision
|
Disallowed
|
With
drawn
|
Total
|
State Pension (Contributory
|
29
|
7
|
58
|
241
|
9
|
344
|
Widow’s/Widower’s Pension (Contributory)
|
5
|
2
|
11
|
38
|
5
|
61
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit
|
96
|
93
|
242
|
562
|
109
|
1,102
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit Over 65
|
11
|
-
|
7
|
121
|
7
|
146
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit Self Employed
|
3
|
0
|
4
|
14
|
4
|
25
|
Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
|
14
|
2
|
1,984
|
630
|
35
|
2,665
|
Deserted Wife’s Benefit
|
3
|
-
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
6
|
Maternity Benefit
|
4
|
3
|
21
|
30
|
1
|
59
|
Paternity Benefit
|
3
|
2
|
17
|
14
|
0
|
36
|
Parent’s Benefit
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
6
|
Partial Capacity Benefit
|
42
|
-
|
14
|
81
|
12
|
149
|
Illness Benefit
|
33
|
10
|
433
|
202
|
49
|
727
|
Injury Benefit
|
15
|
1
|
13
|
32
|
18
|
79
|
Invalidity Pension
|
869
|
5
|
439
|
675
|
19
|
2,007
|
Disablement Benefit
|
79
|
18
|
41
|
169
|
4
|
311
|
Incapacity Supplement
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
Medical Care
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
3
|
Carer’s Benefit
|
58
|
3
|
97
|
119
|
4
|
281
|