XN000022-1989-11-18 — Page 4

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1989

FEWER SOCIAL SECURITY APPEALS FOR 3RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR

DEPARTMENT'S BENEFITS HAS

WELFARE THE NUMBER OF APPEALS AGAINST THE SOCIAL DECISIONS ON ELIGIBILITY AND PAYMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY DECLINED FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THIS IS SHOWN BY THE

THE SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARD (SSAB) WHICH WAS RELEASED TODAY (SATURDAY),

COMMENTING ON THE REPORT, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: "IT BEEN THE AIM OF THE DEPARTMENT TO ENHANCE THE SOCIAL

AND THE DECLINE TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY,

IN

THE

IS BENEFITS CLIENTS WHO FELT DISSATISFIED WITH SMOOTHER SYSTEM."

HAS SECURITY SYSTEM

THE NUMBER OF. EVIDENCE OF A

REPORTED THAT IT PER

IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1988-89, THE BOARD RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 61 APPEALS, A DECREASE OF 10 APPEALS, OR 14.1 CENT COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THERE HAD BEEN 71 APPEALS IN 1987-88 AND 92 IN 1986-87.

ASSISTANCE CASES, 50 WERE UNDER THE TRAFFIC

OF THE 61 APPEALS. 10 WERE PUBLIC SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE CASES. AND ONE WAS A CASE ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME.

DURING THE PERIOD. 60

CASES WERE HEARD: 24 OF BROUGHT FORWARD FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

CONFIRMED THE

THE BOARD

DECISION OF THE DEPARTMENT IN 40 CASES AND VARIED ITS DECISION IN 20.

THESE

WERK

SOCIAL

WELFARE

MEDICAL OPINIONS,

DEPARTMENT

IN THE PROCESSING OF APPEALS WHICH INVOLVED THE BOARD LIAISED CLOSELY WITH THE THEN MEDICAL AND HEALTH IN ARRANGING MEDICAL BOARDS FOR RE-ASSESSMENT.

CASES AND DURING THE YEAR, A TOTAL OF 48 DISABILITY ALLOWANCE

CASE WERE REFERRED ΤΟ THE ONE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE BOARDS.

WRITING BY THE IN GENERAL. WHENEVER A PERSON WAS NOTIFIED IN DEPARTMENT OF THE RESULT OF HIS

SECURITY SOCIAL APPLICATION FOR BENEFITS. HE WAS ALSO INFORMED OF HIS RIGHT TO APPEAL TO THE BOARD HE WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DECISION.

IF

REFERRED TO

THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS RECEIVED DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY

BY THE STAFF 'PER CENT FROM 138 TO 80. OF THESE. 42 WERE SETTLED

THE APPROPRIATE OFFICES THE BOARD. POUR WERE EVENTUALLY BECAME APPEALS.

BY

42

OF

AND

34

THE BOARD ALSO RECEIVED A LARGE NUMBER OF ENQUIRIES

SERVICES PROVIDED BY SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES AND OTHER WELFARE DEPARTMENT. THEY WERE AS FAR AS POSSIBLE ANSWERED BY THE STAFF OF BOARD OR REFERRED TO THE RELEVANT OFFICES,

ABOUT

THE'

THE

THE

/ALL MEMBERS