No improvement in nine-month wait for social welfare appeals

People appealing the loss of social welfare payments can be waiting over nine months for a decision on their case.

Figures released in a parliamentary question to independent TD Catherine Murphy show that the delays, noted as being “unacceptably high” by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in both 2009 and 2010, did not improve last year.

As part of the appeals process, the relevant departmental papers and the deciding officer’s comments must be obtained. The average length of this process in 2011 was 13.7 weeks, or more than three months.