Written answers

Tuesday, 19 April 2005

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Tax and Social Welfare Codes

9:00 pm

Photo of   John Curran John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 93: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will examine the way in which a closer integrated system may be established between the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social and Family Affairs to ensure that overpayments to means tested social welfare recipients are minimised. [7071/05]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department liaises on an ongoing basis with the Revenue Commissioners at national and local level. Section 222(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 1998 provides specifically for the sharing of data between my Department and the Revenue Commissioners.

The Revenue Commissioners provide my Department with details of individual earnings at the end of each year and with information regarding to commencement of employments. Since 1997, my Department matches the commencement of employment data on a monthly basis against the social welfare payment systems to identify cases where there is a possible overlap between the employment period and the period in respect of which the social welfare payment is made. Inquiries are then made with employers, as appropriate, and cases requiring follow-up action are referred to local offices, scheme sections, social welfare inspectors or health boards for investigation, including the assessment of any overpayments arising and consideration for prosecution. In 2004, arising from this data-matching exercise, 24,800 cases were referred for investigation. All recipients of social welfare payments are required to inform my Department of any changes in their circumstances, including earnings, which could affect their entitlements. Customers are notified at the initial claim stage of this requirement. In addition, this obligation is printed on the cover of personalised payable order books for customers receiving long-term payments, such as pensioners and one-parent families.

In the case of unemployment assistance, customers sign a monthly declaration that there has been no change in their circumstances and undertake to notify my Department of any such changes.

My Department takes other opportunities to inform customers of the need to notify any changes in their circumstances, for example, in our customer charter, which is on display in public offices and is available on my Department's website. From time to time mailshots are sent to customers reminding them of the requirement to notify any changes in their circumstances, including changes in means. Customers receiving means related payments should also inform social welfare inspectors of means changes when their cases are being reviewed.

Any person who fails to comply with the requirement to notify my Department of changes in circumstances, including means, is guilty of an offence under the Social Welfare Acts. Such a person may be prosecuted and, on summary conviction, be liable to a fine up to a maximum of €1,270 and/or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.