Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1148. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the detailed basis on which overpayment has been assessed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30780/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobseeker's Allowance (JA) is a means-tested payment made to people who are unemployed and meet all of the qualifying conditions.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned was awarded JA from 16/07/2010.
An official in my Department wrote to the person concerned on 10/02/2020 in relation to a review of her entitlement to JA, requesting additional information in order to complete this review. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned did not provide the information requested.
Further correspondence issued on 28/05/2020 in which the person concerned was asked to provide end of year payslips from 2014 to 2019 from her spouses’ employment and a current payslip from her spouses’ employment in 2020. The requested documentation was not provided by the person concerned. Therefore, on the basis of the information available to my Department, a revised decision and assessment of an overpayment of €31,146 was subsequently issued to the person concerned on the 18/06/2020.
The person concerned was advised that she was not entitled to JA from 22/09/2014 to 04/02/2020 on the grounds that JA is not paid if a person’s means are more than the weekly rate of JA that would be payable to them based on their family circumstances. The Deciding Officer made this decision on the basis that the person had not shown that her means were less than the weekly rate of JA appropriate to her family circumstances as she had failed to provide the requested information in the review of her JA claim.
The person concerned was advised of her right to request a review of this decision and/or appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office outlining the grounds for her appeal and including any facts or evidence in support of her case. The SWAO has advised that no appeal was registered for the person concerned.
Following your representation, I have requested that a review of this case be undertaken. It is important however that the person concerned engages with my officials in the review of the overpayment and provides any requested information.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
