Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2013
303. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the basis of an alleged overpayment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 2; the hearings and findings that took place; when the person was notified of this fine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41905/13]
View answerAn overpayment has arisen in this case as the person concerned was in employment as a cleaner, from 17th February 1997 to 31st August 1999, while simultaneously receiving payments of jobseeker’s allowance. She did not inform her Social Welfare Local Office that she was working and continued to claim on the basis that she was fully unemployed. The person concerned was interviewed under caution on 8th September 1999 when this was put to her. At this interview she admitted to working while concurrently claiming jobseeker’s allowance.
There is no fine or penalty, administrative or court-imposed, in this case but rather a straightforward recovery of the amount of benefit overpaid as a result of her non-disclosure of employment. The person concerned was notified of the fine on 17th September 1999. Her total overpayment of jobseeker’s allowance was £9083.45 which equated to €11533.60. She agreed to deductions of £2.00 per week in 1999 from her jobseeker’s allowance payment. She then agreed on 2nd April 2003 to a deduction of €5.00 per week from her one parent family payment claim. To date the outstanding balance is €8223.60.
