Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
1790. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which a person (details supplied) was entitled to a jobseeker's allowance during the period for which the person was overpaid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37352/17]
View answerThe person concerned was awarded Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) at €100 per week from 25 August 2016 after her job had ceased.
The Department received information on 2 February 2017 that the person concerned was a full time student on a third level course from 12 September 2016 while concurrently in receipt of her JA payment. As a consequence her Jobseeker’s Allowance claim was disallowed for the period 12 September 2016 to 14 February 2017 and an overpayment of €2,233.33 was assessed. The person concerned did not appeal the disallowance decision or overpayment.
The person concerned did not qualify for Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) because she was not getting a qualifying social welfare payment for 234 days immediately before starting the course. Nor she did not apply for BTEA immediately before starting the course.
The person concerned made an application for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) on 8 August 2017. JA was awarded from 8 August 2017 at a rate of €102.70 less an overpayment repayment of €10.00 per week.
