Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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422. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason an overpayment was registered against a person (details supplied), given that the decision overturned a previous decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53167/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) is a means-tested payment made to people who are unemployed and who do not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit for the Self-Employed.

To qualify for JA, a person must:

• be over 18 and under 66 years of age
• satisfy a means test
• be habitually resident in Ireland
• be capable of work
• be available for full-time work
• be genuinely seeking work
• be fully or partly unemployed (at least 4 days out of work in every 7)

The person is currently repaying an overpayment of €821.98 incurred during the period 21/11/2021 to 07/12/2021 as they were both employed and claiming JA at the same time.

The person has been repaying this overpayment at a rate of €10 per week. Their total debt balance as at 28/11/2023 for both overpayments stands at €481.99.

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). A person who has been overpaid social welfare has a liability to refund the overpayment as they have been in receipt of a payment to which they were not entitled. Where an overpayment is raised, the Department makes every effort to recover the amount overpaid.

Recovery is sought over a period without imposing undue financial hardship on the person. The Department will work with the person and consider personal circumstances in determining a repayment plan.

I trust this clarifies the matter.