Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 February 2022
160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current position in regard to the recovery of alleged overpayments in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10227/22]
View answerCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
The person concerned was assessed with a Jobseekers Allowance (JA) overpayment of €153,702.20. This decision was appealed and the Appeals Officer partially allowed that appeal on 25 September 2019, providing that CA be awarded to the person concerned for the period 17 June 2004 to 6 January 2010.
Following a request by the Department for a review of this decision, the Appeals Officers decision was revised and the appeal was disallowed. This decision meant the person concerned was not entitled to CA during the period referred to, resulting in the original JA overpayment still remaining. A letter issued to the person concerned on 14 January 2020 informing her of this decision.
This decision does not affect current entitlement to CA which will remain in payment.
The Debt Recovery Unit (DRU) in Longford wrote to the person concerned on 12 January 2021 and advised that the current repayments of €20.00 per week would remain in place and they were given 21 days to respond to this proposal. This letter advised, in error, that arrears of €25,134.10 were due, and proposed that these arrears would be withheld against the debt of the person concerned. As per the revised decision of the Appeals Officer the original debt amount remains.
The person concerned is currently making repayments of €20.00 per week and on 17 February 2022 has an overpayment to the value of €152,139.10 with the department.
DRU will engage with the person concerned on foot of any response received and will take into consideration any financial burden they are experiencing as a result.
Any new repayment plan applied will need to be reasonable to the person concerned and the Department. As with all debts owed to the Department, the Minister must make every effort to recover debts in full and debts will remain until fully recovered
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
