Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 February 2019
221. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a review and, if necessary, an appeal against the decision to attribute an overpayment of carer’s allowance will be arranged in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10199/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuring the course of a review of their entitlement to carer's allowance (CA), it was determined that the person concerned had not notified the Department of changes in their financial circumstances. When Department officials requested documentation pertaining to these changes, the person concerned failed to supply them.
On 13 November 2018, the person concerned was notified that their entitlement to CA from 22 May 2014 to date was under review and that should a Deciding Officer decide that she was not entitled to CA during that period or that she was entitled to lower rates than was paid, she would be liable to refund any monies paid to which she was not entitled. She was offered the opportunity to furnish any statement or evidence she wanted to supply in the matter.
On 7 February 2019, a Deciding Officer reviewed all the evidence and decided that the person concerned was no longer entitled to CA as she had failed to show that her means were not less than the statutory limit and had failed to supply documentation that was requested from her. In addition it was decided that she was not entitled to CA from 1 December 2016 to 13 February 2019 for the same reasons.
As a result, it was further decided that she had been overpaid an amount of money which she is liable to refund to the Department. My Department will engage with the customer regarding an appropriate debt recovery plan.
The person concerned was notified on 7 February 2019 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. To date, no request for a further review or appeal has been received from the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
