Social welfare Ireland: Urgent PUP ‘overpayment’ warning as gardai to check claims

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Thousands of people still claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment have been warned that they must confirm their continued eligibility by Tuesday, July 20.

The Department of Social Protection said that this practice is “standard with all social welfare payments”.

Just over 221,000 people received the payment last week according to the Department’s latest figures.

And all of those who are still claiming the PUP are asked to register their continued eligibility online to avoid any overpayments, which will be tracked down.

They explained: “As is standard with all social welfare payments, people receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment may be asked from time to time to confirm their eligibility to continue to receive their payment.

“This helps to ensure that people who have, for example, returned to work are reminded to close their claim and avoid incurring an overpayment.

“Similar to earlier this year and last year the Department has begun a process of contacting PUP recipients asking them to confirm their ongoing entitlement.

“All PUP recipients are asked to confirm their continued eligibility for PUP by Tuesday, 20th July.

“PUP recipients should log onto MyWelfare and following the instructions under the heading ‘Continued eligibility to receive Pandemic Unemployment Payment’. Any person who experiences difficulty in doing this should contact our helpline on 1890 800 024 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm).”

It comes as a large team of gardai are currently checking all PUP claims as businesses across the country reopen and people lose their eligibility for the payment.

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A spokesman said: “The Department conducts a series of pre and post payment checks on all PUP claims which include continuing eligibility checks. Subject to these checks being cleared the Department then processes payments based on the clients’ self-declaration.

“The Department runs post payment checks that includes verifying data against Revenue records, examining cases where the same Bank account is used multiple times, examining cases where an employer or members of the public report concerns, and the use of data analytics to identify and check claims. It also undertakes employer inspections.

“This work is undertaken by the Department’s Special Investigation Unit, which includes over 20 Gardaí on secondment to the Department.

“As business re-opens the Department’s inspectors continue to conduct control reviews and matching records against employer payroll data from the Revenue Commissioners to help ensure people close their claim as they return to work. To avoid incurring an overpayment people returning to work should close their claim and can do so easily at www.MyWelfare.ie .”