asked the Minister for Social Welfare what is the statutory authority empowering him to invite an old age contributory pensioner to give a charge on his pension to a Department of State for the purpose of discharging an alleged debt to such Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Charge on Contributory Old Age Pensioner.
4.
Old Age (Contributory) Pension is a benefit under the Social Insurance Scheme and it is provided in the Social Welfare Act, 1952, that every assignment of or charge on such a benefit is void. The Act, however, provides for the making of regulations whereby overpayments of benefit may be recovered by deduction from other benefits or otherwise.
As Minister for Social Welfare, I am charged with responsibility for the administration not only of the Social Insurance Scheme but also of various Social Assistance Schemes, including for example the non-contributory old age pension scheme. Any person who is liable to refund to my Department an overpayment under any of the Social Assistance Schemes, and who subsequently becomes entitled to benefit under the Social Insurance Scheme may, if he so desires, divert the benefit in whole or in part towards the discharge of his debt.