Social Welfare Overpayments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 June 2013

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Ceisteanna (117)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

117. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has responsibility regarding the paying of a full-rate qualified allowance to a person in receipt of the jobseeker's allowance in respect of their spouse, who was in employment for a period of over three years, and whose P60s were returned each year to the Revenue Commissioners with the person's PPS number; the measures in place between her Department and the Revenue Commissioners over a number of years to ensure that persons were not making a claim in respect of a spouse whom the Government bodies were aware was in employment, notwithstanding the responsibility on the person not to make an overclaim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28208/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Every week, the Department pays nearly 1.5 million people a social welfare payment and, when qualified adults and children are included, almost 2.3 million people benefit from weekly payments from the Department.

The Department engages in data exchange and matching exercises with other Government Departments and public bodies, including the Revenue Commissioners, for control purposes. Data matching is an efficient and effective mechanism to target control related activity. It is an important preventative and detection control measure.

However, it is the customer’s responsibility to provide full and accurate information about their particular circumstances to support their claim and they must also inform the Department promptly if their circumstances change as this may affect their entitlements.

An overpayment is any social welfare assistance or benefit payment which the person who received the amount was not entitled to receive. Where overpayments occur, they are regarded as a debt to the Exchequer and every effort must be – and is - made to recover the amounts due.

Debt holders should be aware that a Departmental debt will remain on their records until it is fully recovered. This may result in a reduction of all future entitlements up to and including state pension.