Processing stages – The appeal moves forward

As a rule, the Pension Appeal Board processes cases in the order of arrival. However, the acquisition of additional clarifications and evidence and hearing the parties to a matter may affect the processing time of an individual case. Issues relating to vocational rehabilitation are always processed as urgent.

Once the petition of appeal has arrived at the Pension Appeal Board, the case is registered as pending. The appeal then proceeds to the preparation stage, where the attached documents are checked, and any necessary clarifications are obtained. A case memorandum is also prepared. It may be necessary to obtain additional clarifications throughout the different stages of processing. Following preparation, the referendary draws up a presentation memorandum and a draft decision complete with a statement of reason. Before the Board’s session, the members participating in issuing a decision on the appeal familiarize themselves with the memorandum, draft decision and various case documents.

The appeal is settled in a session held by the section. Following the session, the final decision is prepared and reviewed and sent to the parties concerned. The documents included in the appeal process are stored at the pension provider (Employees Pensions Act, Section 218). The Pension Appeal Board archives the decision and the memorandum.

With the exemption of the interested party, the decision of the Pension Appeal Board is to be kept confidential as far as information pertaining to state of health and financial position are concerned.

The Pension Appeal Board does not provide details on any of its decisions over the phone.