Máire Devine (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1372. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if his Department could examine a PUP enforcement case (details supplied). [18506/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Persons who have been overpaid social welfare have a liability to refund the overpayment as they have been in receipt of a payment to which they were not entitled. Overpayments of social welfare entitlements can occur where a person provides false or misleading information in their application or through error on the part of either the claimant or the Department.

The individual referred to by the Deputy was in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) from13th November 2020 to 12th August 2021 (36 weeks). Information available to my Department, shows that the individual was also engaged in insurable employment during this time, and therefore was not entitled to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. An overpayment was assessed and notified in February 2024.

A review of the decision was requested. The Reviewing Officer upheld the original decision that the individual was not entitled to PUP and was therefore overpaid. My Department then contacted the individual to agree a suitable recovery plan. Repayments of €40 per month are currently being received.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.