WRC dismisses discrimination complaint over social welfare refusals

The Workplace Relations Commission dismissed Iana Iakovenko’s complaint that initial refusals of social welfare payments involved race and civil status discrimination. The decision, dated 14 June 2022, was against the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The adjudication officer found that assessing benefit eligibility under statutory rules was not a service covered by the Equal Status Act, and that Iakovenko had not made out a prima facie case of prohibited conduct. An internal appeal corrected the initial decisions, and she received the benefits and arrears due under law. The complaint was dismissed; no monetary award was recorded.