John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1111. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason her Department is pursuing a debt of €198 relative to a disability allowance claim by a person (details supplied); and if the payment which was collected by the agent of the person was being paid in arrears or in advance. [45516/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Disability allowance (DA) is paid weekly in advance each Wednesday. This lady was appointed as an agent on her deceased brother's DA claim on 6 May 2016. This enabled her to collect his DA payment on her brother's behalf.

On the death of her brother, there was no entitlement to any payment after death as the DA recipient was not claiming an increase for qualified adult allowance (IQA) nor was there a surviving spouse in receipt of certain Social Welfare payments in their own right.

On stopping the DA claim, the department noted that a payment had over-issued to the sum of €198 relating to the week commencing 1 August 2018. My department is obliged to recoup any debt owing to it. The method of recovery and negotiations regarding the amount recoverable are dealt with under the department’s code of practice. This lady was advised to contact my department to discuss recovery.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.