Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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403. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 614 of 15 October 2019, the status of the matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50943/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Social welfare legislation provides that the personal representative of a deceased person, who at any time received a social assistance scheme payment, such as state pension (non-contributory), is obliged to give notice to my Department of their intention to distribute the deceased's estate and to provide a schedule of the assets of the estate. The personal representative is requested not to distribute the assets of the estate in question until they receive formal clearance from my Department. If, on examination of the schedule of assets, it is found that not all of the deceased’s means had been disclosed, or if the values of previously assessed means had changed, my Department will seek to recover any monies overpaid from the estate.

The deceased person concerned was a recipient of state pension (non-contributory). The review of the deceased's state pension (non-contributory) entitlement has now been completed. The Deciding Officer's decision was sent to the personal representatives of the deceased on 22 November 2019. The decision letter informs the personal representatives of their right to submit an appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office if they are dissatisfied with the decision. To date, there is no record of an appeal having been made.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.