Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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200. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the illness benefit section will contact the human resources department of the Houses of the Oireachtas (details supplied); if this error will be rectified in view of the subsequent effect on the tax record of the person for 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22134/19]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The person concerned applied for Illness Benefit from the 4th March 2019. She submitted a medical certificate from the 4th March 2019 to the 8th March 2019. This certificate was not marked as a final certificate and the Department was not informed that she had returned to work. Due to a processing error the person concerned was paid up to the 22nd March 2019 resulting in an overpayment. 

In all cases where an overpayment has occurred the claimant is written to by the Department and advised that where payment of Illness Benefit has been nominated by the person to be paid to their employer, the person should send a copy of the Department's letter to their Accounts/Payroll section so that the overpayment may be refunded by their employer to the Department.

I understand that official from the Department spoke with the person concerned on Friday 17th May to advise her of the position and a copy of the overpayment letter has issued to her in order that she can provide it to her employer.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.