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Invalidity Pension Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 May 2014

Thursday, 1 May 2014

Questions (89)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

89. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total weekly entitlement-payment in respect of invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19835/14]

View answer

Written answers

Invalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. The person concerned was awarded IP with effect from 18 April 2013 at a weekly rate of €193.50 and an additional €20.00 per week during the fuel allowance season. The person concerned has an outstanding balance of €12,755.79 on an overpayment accrued as a result of jobseeker’s allowance paid to him from 16 May 1996 to 20 January 1999. The original overpayment amount was €14,399.40 and arose from his failure to disclose means/income/earnings. Also an overpayment of €258.06 accrued as a result of a jobseeker’s benefit paid to him from 07 January 2004 to 14 January 2004 while he was on an employment/training scheme. Weekly deductions of €10 .00 deducted from subsequent jobseeker’s benefit/allowance and illness benefit payments have reduced the amount of the overpayment to the current balance.

As you will be aware, my Department has a responsibility to ensure that all overpayments are refunded in full. When determining a recovery plan, the general approach is that the recovery amount proposed will be the maximum repayment that the person can afford in order to recover the overpayment as quickly as possible. Due consideration is given to any case made by the person regarding the method of recovery. Currently, the Department does not apply interest or penalties on the amounts owing.

Correspondence issued to the person concerned on 17 January 2014 proposing recovery of the outstanding balance by withholding IP arrears of €4,401.99 due to him and by implementing weekly deductions of €29.00 from his IP payment - this is equivalent to 15% of his weekly personal rate. As part of this standard letter, the person concerned was offered the opportunity to comment on the proposal and to provide relevant facts and circumstances that he wished to be taken into consideration prior to a recovery plan being implemented. No communication has been received from the person in question in relation to this proposed repayment plan. A letter issued to the person concerned 29 April 2014 to advise that the recovery plan proposed by the Department will be implemented if no details of relevant facts or circumstances are received within 7 days.

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