Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

All I can say is that approximately 11% of overpayments arise from what are called estate cases, in other words, after someone’s death when their will is being probated and their property is being distributed. It sometimes does emerge that people who claimed various payments from the Department may have had significant assets far in excess of the assets permitted by the means test. As Senator Moloney is aware, the means test for the non-contributory old-age pension is quite generous.

If memory serves, it is pretty significant. It will depend on the size of the estate and what it can bear. That is why it is important to bring to the attention of the Department if the means have changed, and that must be taken into account. It might be wise to have a word at local level with the senior manager in charge but will depend on the composition and extent of the estate and the circumstances.