Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)

I thank the Minister for her reply. In my experience of dealing with this issue, the only way claimants end up getting their payments is if they quote the EU guidelines. It is only when that happens that the deciding officer will say, "You are actually right", but if the claimants do not know that before meeting the officer, they will not get what they are entitled to. Can these guidelines be made more solid, for example, in legislation?

I dealt with the case of an elderly man who no longer felt safe in Manchester, where he was living. It is debatable whether he was right or wrong but he had not lived in Ireland for 30 years. He had lived here for 35 years before he emigrated. He returned and he was told he was not entitled to anything and he was not Irish anymore. People seem to have to fight like dogs to secure their benefits rather than it being pointed out to them that they are entitled to them. They have to prove something before anything is done for them.

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