Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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EU legislation provides that arrears of benefit due to a person payable by one Member State can be withheld or reduced, if required, by another Member State if that Member State had an assistance overpayment for the person concerned, relating to the same period.

In this case, the person concerned applied for an Irish state pension (contributory) and indicated that they had also worked in the UK. As the applicant was in receipt of Disability Allowance, which is a means tested assistance payment, the Department requested that the arrears were withheld, to allow time to establish whether or not an overpayment of Irish assistance existed for the same period.

It has since been confirmed that no Disability Allowance overpayment exists, and that it is in order for the UK arrears, in full, to be paid directly to the person concerned. A form requesting the financial institution account details of the person has been issued. On return, payment of the arrears will be made without delay.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.