Half of appeals against social welfare decisions successful

ALMOST half of people who appealed a social welfare payment decision last year were successful, according to the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Revealed in the annual report of the Social Welfare Appeals Office, Fine Gael’s social and family affairs spokeswoman Olwyn Enright claimed the figures highlight a deliberate policy within Mary Hanafin’s department to refuse people benefits in order to limit the numbers who can claim.

Brian Flynn, director and chief appeals officer said, however, that the figures came at a time when the department had been “blown away” by the huge increase in social welfare claims experienced in 2008.