Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 311

Appeals and references to appeals officers

Section 311 sets out the right to appeal decisions on supplementary welfare allowance claims and recoverable benefits questions, including the procedures, scope and restrictions applying to such appeals.

• A person dissatisfied with a deciding officer's decision or a designated person's determination on a supplementary welfare allowance claim may appeal to an appeals officer by notifying the Chief Appeals Officer within the prescribed time limit.
• Regulations may set out the procedures to be followed for appeals and references under this Part.
• The appeals officer is not limited to the grounds on which the original decision was based and may decide the question entirely afresh, as if it were being considered for the first time.
• No appeal may be made against a deciding officer's decision on a recoverable benefits question until all recoverable benefits specified in the relevant statement have been paid to the Minister.