Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 303

Reference by deciding officer to appeals officer

Section 303 allows a deciding officer to refer any question within their jurisdiction to an appeals officer instead of deciding it themselves.

• A deciding officer is not obliged to decide every question personally
• Any question that falls to be decided by the deciding officer may be referred to an appeals officer
• The referral must follow prescribed procedures
• The decision to refer is at the deciding officer's discretion