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welfare overpayment 19 years later

  • 29-12-2013 01:26PM
    #1
    westmeathman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10 ✭


    ok . I maybe in the wrong category here but I stupidly over claimed a social welfare payment of 400 euro 19 years ago and I got a letter last week to pay it all back 19 years later . right so let me get started 19 years ago I was 20 years old and unemployed and got offered some work but didn't sign off my mistake I admit . in the last 19 years I was working and on good wages and should have payed it back but as time went by I had forgot all about it , in that time I had bought a house had 4 kids and got married and separated and now 19 years later im unemployed with no home and little contact with my kids ... not on my behalf , and now they contact me to pay it back all I get is 188 euro and pay what you have to out of it . why in the last 19 years did they not contact me when I was employed and would have no problem in paying it surely my pps number would have have flagged it with revenue . do a law called the stature of limitations not kick in here . and if I do have to pay the welfare site states I can make the minimum pay back of 2 euro a week to clear the overpayment ... any ideas folks :(


Comments

  • #2
    johnnyskeleton
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 14,561 Mod ✭✭✭✭johnnyskeleton


    I don't think there are provisions of the statute of limitations for welfare fraud, although there may be time limits on the criminal prosecutions if they are summary only.

    The maximum repayment from welfare payments is around 15%, or about €27 out of €188.

    Pretty lenient really, in my view. The punishment for fraudulently claiming welfare should be much higher


  • #3
    smcgiff
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,943 ✭✭✭smcgiff


    19 years! Somebody's looking for promotion.

    Try and get the amount paid per week reduced as much as possible.

    You're by no means alone having done this. Fair play to the SW sleuth though.


  • #4
    westmeathman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10 ✭westmeathman


    johnnyskeleton wrote: »
    I don't think there are provisions of the statute of limitations for welfare fraud, although there may be time limits on the criminal prosecutions if they are summary only.

    The maximum repayment from welfare payments is around 15%, or about €27 out of €188.

    Pretty lenient really, in my view. The punishment for fraudulently claiming welfare should be much higher

    yes I agree but I had completely had forgotten all about it but I am agreeing to repay im just peed of that when I was working and paying all my taxes for 19 odd years they never contacted me and now when I find myself on welfare its even harder to to find extra to pay it thank god whens its paid its gone ..


  • #5
    manonboard
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,104 ✭✭✭manonboard


    When you take into account inflation over 19 years, your still doing well to only have to pay back the 400 euro.

    It's odd they are contacting you now about it, but I guess they're really starting to tackle Welfare fraud using the new connections their systems have developed. Nice one for the SW dept.


  • #6
    smcgiff
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,943 ✭✭✭smcgiff


    westmeathman wrote: »
    yes I agree but I had completely had forgotten all about it but I am agreeing to repay im just peed of that when I was working and paying all my taxes for 19 odd years they never contacted me and now when I find myself on welfare its even harder to to find extra to pay it thank god whens its paid its gone ..


    On behalf of SW, can I offer this apology...

    Dear westmeathman,

    Please accept our deepest apologies for not uncovering your fraud at a more convenient time.

    Will be in touch.

    Yours
    SW Dept


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  • #7
    NotInventedHere
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 411 ✭✭NotInventedHere


    Tell them to leave it out. Statute of limitations applies. Tax evasion is 10 years.


  • #8
    smcgiff
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,943 ✭✭✭smcgiff


    NotInventedHere wrote: »
    Tell them to leave it out. Statute of limitations applies. Tax evasion is 10 years.

    What tax evasion?


  • #9
    hmmm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,205 ✭✭✭✭hmmm


    westmeathman wrote: »
    but didn't sign off my mistake I admit:(
    You're lucky they're only looking for 400 quid. If it was Revenue you'd have been hit with 19 years of penalties and interest if you make a mistake.


  • #10
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,653 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    westmeathman wrote: »
    do a law called the stature of limitations not kick in here
    It seems that only applies to suing you. You still owe the money, they just can't sue you for it.

    This case is different because you are looking for money from them. you owe them money, so they will deduct it from any money you expect.


  • #11
    degsie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,760 ✭✭✭degsie


    Why would anybody admit to fraud on a public forum? Baffles me!!


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  • #12
    Tasden
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,166 ✭✭✭Tasden


    They generally only enforce repayments through a social welfare payment so if you were to sign off and start work they won't take the money from your earnings but the minute you claim a payment- pension, ja etc. they can deduct it then at source as that overpayment is always on file and if you die before they recoup the full amount it will be taken from your estate. They legally can't reduce your payment by an amount that would see your family income at an amount less than the maximum SWA rate for your family circumstances and are pretty fair about repayment plans so set a figure that suits you per week.


This discussion has been closed.
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