Almost half of social welfare appeals successful

Almost half of all social welfare payment decisions in 2005 were not upheld after appeals, figures showed today.

The annual report of the Social Welfare Appeals Office showed that only 47% or 6,486 of the 13,800 appeals were successful.

The overall number of appeals fell by 2% when compared with 2004.

In 2005, 41% of appeals were disallowed and 12% were withdrawn.

Overall, 67% of appeals were determined by way of oral hearings held at more than 70 venues throughout the country.

Minister for Social and Family Affairs Seamus Brennan said the appeals office has a vital role in ensuring that welfare customers have access to an independent review mechanism when they feel aggrieved by a decision made by the department and wish to appeal the outcome.

“My department makes every effort to deal sensitively with all cases and to deliver entitlements to people based on need and in accordance with the legislation,” he explained.

“However, when you consider that my department makes almost one million payments a week that benefit more than 1.5 million people, it is understandable that there will be some people who will not agree with decisions made on their entitlements.

“That is why recourse to a full, fair and independent hearing through the appeals office is so important.”

The office deals with appeals on decisions made in relation to entitlement to benefits under the Social Welfare Acts.

It also provides an appeals service to the Health Service Executive relating to the Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

More than 70 case studies are featured on the new website for the appeals office, www.socialwelfareappeals.ie.

“Calls are made from time to time for the Social Welfare Appeals Office to publish its cases so as to enable all interested parties, including those considering lodging appeals, to understand how the appeals process works and to gain insights into the considerations that appeals officers take account of in deciding cases,” Mr Brennan continued.

The report found it took an average of 20 weeks to dispose of an appeal in 2005, which is identical to the position in 2004.

However, many cases take longer due to legal matters, medical considerations and additional investigations, etcetera.

If the 25% most protracted appeals are disregarded, the average falls to 13 weeks.

“The appeals system is judicial in nature and due process must be followed. There is very limited scope for fast-tracking cases,” Mr Brennan’s spokesman said.

Consultations between appeals officers, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Health Service Executive helped resolve difficulties and anomalies in the interpretation of legislation or policy.

As well as case histories, court proceedings and judgments during 2005 are also covered.