AS MUCH AS €217 million in payments from the Department of Social Protection have gone unclaimed over the past three years.
These were all returned to the Department automatically, having first been routed through An Post.
The figures were revealed in a parliamentary question by Deputy Jack Wall to Tánaiste and Social Protection Minister Joan Burton.
She confirmed €65.6 was unclaimed in 2013, €68.3 in 2012, and €83.1 in 2011.
“Where customers do not to collect the amounts due for payment within a specified period or where customer circumstances change and payments are individually stopped by the Department,” Burton explained.
“The payment authorisations go out of date and are regarded as lapsed issues.”
In certain circumstances, for example where a payment has lapsed even though the customer is entitled to it, the payment can be reclaimed at a later date.
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