Over 45% of appeals successful

ALMOST half of all appeals against social welfare decisions were successful last year.

The appeals are decided by the Social Welfare Appeals office, which provides a statutory right of redress for people unhappy with decisions regarding their social welfare entitlements.

The office’s progress report for last year shows over 45% (7,493) of the appeals processed were successful. This figure compares with 43% in 2000 and 48% in 1999.

Sickness payments last year accounted for about 40% of appeals, with unemployment payments accounting for a further 35%.

Appeals against decisions relating to sickness schemes were the most successful, largely because of second medical examinations by departmental medical assessors.

The office received 15,961 appeals last year, a decrease of 9% on 2000.

There was a 20% reduction in the number of appeals against decisions disallowing unemployment payments, while appeals relating to disability benefit fell by 13%.

Appeals relating to the carers’ allowance have increased five-fold since 1997, from 288 to 1,334.

Last year, 2,253 appeals were withdrawn or otherwise not pursued by members of the public. This represents over 13% of appeals disposed of.

A gender analysis found more women than men appeal against social welfare payment decisions, at 56% and 44% respectively. Some 48% of women and 44% of men were successful in their appeals.

With the exception of the most protracted cases, the average time for processing appeals is under 15 weeks, which compares favourably with other countries.

A review of the appeals office is being carried out by consultants with the aim of improving the service.

Decisions made by the appeals’ officers included:

The rejection of a one-parent family payment claim made by a foreign national because the qualifying condition requiring the woman to have lived apart from her husband for at least three months was not fulfilled.

A ruling in favour of a woman’s appeal against a decision to disallow an orphan’s allowance for her grandchild, who had been living with her for the best part of 15 years.

The appeal officer allowed the payment because there was evidence both parents had abandoned the child.

A ruling in favour of an appeal against a decision to disallow a non-contributory old-age pension.

The appeals officer found the man had not given away the proceeds of his home to qualify for a pension.

The proceeds from the sale of the house were used to clear his son’s business debt and to part-finance the building of an extension to another son’s house as a home for himself and his wife.