The person concerned applied for jobseekers allowance on 11 Feb 2008. Until a decision was given on his claim in April, 2008, he received supplementary welfare allowance based on a nil means assessment. In April, 2008, a Deciding Officer assessed his means at €194.00 per week, giving him a jobseekers allowance entitlement of €183.10 per week. The amount of supplementary welfare allowance he received in the period exceeded his jobseekers allowance entitlement by €2,153.60.
On 10 October, 2008, a Deciding Officer revised his means assessment to nil with effect from 1 May, 2008, giving him a jobseekers allowance entitlement of €401.10 per week, from that date. Arrears of €4,203.33 were due to him as a result of this decision. However, this amount was reduced by €2,153.60 to recover the excess of supplementary welfare allowance paid to him. The net amount of arrears due to him was €2,049.70. An arrears payment of this amount issued to him on 17 October, 2008. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.