Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17 is being pursued by his Department for a 14 year old €40 overpayment which was an error by his Department. [39860/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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My Department is fully committed to recovering 100% of all overpayments. An overpayment will remain on a customer’s record until fully recovered. This will result in a reduction of all future entitlements up to and including state pension and potentially a claim on any estate after death. Persons who have a debt and who are no longer dependent on social welfare are required to repay a debt as quickly as possible.

The overpayment in the case referred to by the Deputy was in respect of Jobseekers Benefit in the amount of €53.14. The overpayment falls into the category of customer or third party error rather than error by my Department. Two repayments have thus far been made, €7.50 deduction from Jobseekers Benefit for the period 04/08/05 to 13/08/05 and €3.00 deduction from Occupational Injuries Benefit for the period 11/01/10 to 16/01/10, leaving an outstanding balance of €42.64.