Checklist when appealing a social welfare decision

This page is a checklist only for people submitting a Notice of Appeal form to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO1) (pdf).

You may find it useful to read our page on How to appeal a social welfare decision before reading this page.

If you need help with your appeal, some organisations such as your local Citizens Information Centre can help you. They can help you to decide if you have grounds for an appeal. They can also help you to prepare your case and may even go with you on the day of your oral hearing.

• Check if your payment or scheme is covered by the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). You can see a list of payments covered by the SWAO.
• If it’s not covered, a formal appeal is not possible. However, you can request a review of the decision by the Department of Social Protection (DSP).
• Make sure you submit your appeal within 60 days of the decision letter from the DSP.
• If appealing late, explain the reason why it is late. Appeals Officers do not have to accept late applications.
• Appeals received more than 180 days from the date of the decision letter will not be accepted.

If your application is late (you are outside the time limit) or the Appeals Officer won’t accept your late application, you can consider asking the DSP to review their decision.

• Set out the reasons why you do not agree with the Department of Social Protection's decision.
• Gather any evidence or information you want to be considered by the Appeals Officer – this might include additional medical reports.
• Arrange your documents in date order and if using photocopies of documents, make sure they are legible.

You may find it helpful to look at case studies of previous social welfare appeals decisions on the Community Law & Mediation website.

• Fill in a Notice of Appeal form within 60 days of the date of the DSP the decision letter.
• You must include the following in your appeal:
  • Your name, address, and date of birth
  • Your PPS number
  • A copy of the DSP decision letter
  • A clear explanation of why you think the decision was wrong
  • Any supporting evidence (such as letters from doctors, social workers)

Include copies of any evidence and documents you want to be considered (you should keep your original documents).

You should make a copy of your appeal before submitting it. You can:

• Submit your appeal online with MyWelfare, if you have a verified MyGovID account
• Post your appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
• You can check the SWAO has received your Notice of Appeal:
  • Online: Check MyWelfare for confirmation (unless you opted for post).
  • By post: Wait for a confirmation letter with your Appeal Reference Number.

Keep your Appeal Reference Number for all future communication.

• If you requested an oral hearing, did you receive a hearing invitation letter?
• Note the date, time, and location of your hearing.
• Plan to attend – it’s a chance to explain your case fully.
• You may bring a family member for support. If you want to bring someone else or a representative, for example, a friend, trade union official or advocate, you will need to ask the Appeals Officer for permission.
• If you can’t attend, contact the Appeals Office as soon as possible to reschedule.

The Appeals Officer can make a decision using the information you sent in your Notice of Appeal form and may decide an oral hearing is not needed.

• If you attended an oral hearing, you’ll get a written decision within 2–3 weeks.
• The letter will have:
  • The Appeals Officer’s decision
  • The reasons for the decision
  • The outcome for both you and the Department

The Appeals Officer’s decision is usually final. However, an Appeals Officer can revise their decision in certain circumstances.  Read more about Appeals Officer’s decisions.