Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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407. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); if he will request his officials to take a sympathetic approach, as in all probability a genuine mistake was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34984/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Illness benefit is a payment to persons who are unable to work due to illness and who satisfy certain statutory PRSI contribution conditions.

Partial capacity benefit (PCB) is a scheme where a person who has been in receipt of the benefit for at least six months and who may have some capacity for employment may apply to take up work while still receiving payment. Written approval from my department must be obtained before taking up the employment. The person concerned was notified of this conditionality on the PCB application form and by means of form SW132 which issued in April 2015.

It came to attention that the person concerned was in receipt of illness benefit during the period from 15 April 2016 to 4 October 2016 while in employment.Approval for PCB had not been given. The claim to illness benefit was disallowed for this period resulting in an overpayment. There is a right of appeal to the independent Appeals Office on the decision.

As regards the method of recovery of an overpayment a person can have their circumstances taken into account and re-payment can be made by regular instalments.

I trust this clarifies the matter.