Social Welfare Appeal G0073

This case concerns a father of two children who applied for Family Income Supplement (FIS) on 5th August 2013. The Appellant does not live with the other parent, nor does he reside with his children. He maintains his children by way of monthly maintenance payments of €450.
A Deciding Officer refused the Appellant’s claim on 20th August 2013 for the reason that he was not maintaining his former spouse/partner, and therefore could not be regarded as falling within the statutory definition of a ‘family’ for FIS purposes.
The Appellant appealed this decision. On 21st July 2014 an Appeals Officer disallowed his appeal by way of a summary decision; that is, without an oral hearing. The Appeals Officer rejected the Appeal on the same grounds that the Deciding Officer had disallowed the claim in the first instance.
On 29th May 2015 Dublin City Centre Citizens Information Service (CIS), on behalf of the Appellant, requested a review of the Appeals Officer’s decision pursuant to s. 318 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended). The CIS asserted that the Appeals Officer had erred in his interpretation of the primary legislation, and had not applied the relevant regulatory provisions in this case.
On 29th June 2015, the Chief Appeals Officer revised the decision of the Appeals Officer and allowed the appeal.
Reference should be made to Case No: G0064 on casebase. That case concerns the same question of statutory interpretation and the Appeal was allowed.