Gary Gannon
Question:140. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of social welfare overpayments recouped after death in each of the years to 2021. [33248/22]
View answerWednesday, 22 June 2022
Questions (140)
Written answers
Overpayments of social welfare assistance and benefit payments arise as a consequence of decisions made under the relevant sections of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 (as amended). Customers who have been overpaid social welfare have a liability to refund the overpayment as they have been in receipt of a payment to which they were not entitled. Some payments may have issued where a customer is deceased and there may have been a delay in notifying the Department.
Where an overpayment is raised, the Department makes every effort to recover the amount overpaid. Recovery is sought over a period without imposing undue financial hardship on the customer. The Department will work with the customer and consider personal circumstances in determining a repayment plan.
Paid After Death Overpayments 2018 to 2021
|
Year |
No. of Cases |
Overpayment Amount |
Amount Recovered |
|
2018 |
10,500 |
€8.5m |
€6.2m |
|
2019 |
11,000 |
€9.2m |
€6.9m |
|
2020 |
12,200 |
€9.6m |
€7.4m |
|
2021 |
13,000 |
€12m |
€9m |
All figures rounded.
Almost 90% of all paid after death overpayments relate to state pensions.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.