Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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223. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number and value of illness benefit overpayment recouped in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [38185/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Overpayments of social welfare assistance and benefit payments arise as a consequence of decisions made under the relevant sections of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 (as amended). Where an overpayment is raised, the Department makes every effort to recover the amount overpaid in full in the shortest time period.

Overpayments can take a number of years to be fully recovered and the Department takes into account, as it is obliged to by law, the personal circumstances of the person in determining the amount of money they can repay so as to ensure that their living needs are met.

A breakdown of Illness Benefit overpayments recouped in the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 to 30/06/2021 is set out in the table below.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.