Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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122. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will examine the case of illness benefit overpayments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28583/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned was in receipt of Illness Benefit for a period from 4th February 2002 until the 16th July 2011. The rules and regulations governing Illness Benefit were changed in 2009 to introduce a limit on the period for which Illness Benefit can be paid. Subject to the level of relevant PRSI contributions paid, Illness Benefit is now only payable for a maximum period of 2 years.

At the time of the change mentioned above, those who had been in receipt of Illness Benefit on a long-term basis were, as an exceptional measure, afforded the option, subject to continued appropriate certification, to remain on Illness Benefit on a continuous duration basis or to make an application for Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance. Some people, including the person identified by the Deputy, opted to remain on Illness Benefit rather than applying for the potentially long-term payments of Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance.

The person concerned incurred an overpayment of €19,337.95 while on Illness Benefit from the period 1st June 2005 until the 30th June 2011 due to a period of concurrent working while claiming. This debt was raised on 6th April 2016. The current outstanding balance on the debt is €15,206.94.

A letter issued on the 29th May 2024 to inform the person concerned that the department proposed to recover the outstanding debt by deducting €25.00 each week from their current social welfare payment beginning on the 7th June 2024. This letter included space to reply with any comments or details they would like considered in the recovery of their overpayment, as well as contact details for our central debt unit should they have any further questions.

The outstanding debt will remain in place until it has been repaid in full and recovery of the debt will continue to be deducted from any social welfare payments received.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.