Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1200. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of the number of jobseeker’s payment claims that have been closed due to the recipients failing to satisfy compliance requirements from January 2022 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39931/22]
View answerWhile it is acknowledged that most people on social welfare are claiming the correct entitlement due to them, my Department has a duty to ensure that it pays the right person the right amount of money at the right time. Therefore, it is important that all schemes operated are subject to on-going control reviews and eligibility checks.
Control reviews can arise from targeted and random case selections, or where specific information comes to the attention of the Department. Factors such as length of time since last review, having a trade or qualification where there is a labour demand or where information is received from other agencies – such as the Revenue Commissioners - or members of the public can also trigger control reviews. In this context, it should be noted that customers are under a legal obligation to report any change in their circumstances (income or means) to the Department.
My Department is committed to ensuring that the principles of due process and natural justice are followed in all claim decisions. This applies equally to decisions at initial claim stage and when claims are subsequently reviewed.
In the period January to end-June 2022 the Department conducted 34,393 control reviews. The reviews resulted in 4,164 claim closures where eligibility was no longer satisfied and 2,786 cases where payments were reduced where the original means assessed had increased.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
