SOME PEOPLE who are not getting a social welfare payment to which they are entitled, due to delays in the appeals system, are at risk of “destitution”, a report has suggested.
Legal rights group Flac (Free Legal Advice Centres) yesterday published a report recommending major reforms of the way social welfare appeals are handled. It expressed concern about a number of issues, including lengthy appeals in decision-making and a “perceived” lack of independence on the part of the social welfare appeals office.
In 2011, 42 per cent of decisions appealed were overturned. Flac said this showed many original decisions to refuse a payment were wrong in the first place.
Launching the report, Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly noted many people made their appeals without the benefit of seeing the department’s file on their case and without knowing the details of the criteria used in refusing their claim.