Social welfare recipients in Ireland will receive a refund due to an error with April's cost of living payment.
The €200 cash benefit was given to 1.2 million people at the end of last month, along with their usual weekly social welfare payment. which was the bonus element of a cost of living package announced in February.
The Department of Social Protection has said that 1% (approximately 12,000) recipients of the bonus payment had charged applied incorrectly, Dublin Live reported.
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They stated: "The Spring cost of living bonus payment was made to eligible people this week. This was an additional bonus payment of €200 made to approximately 1.25 million eligible customers, in addition to their normal weekly social welfare payment."
The Department said they were aware that in a small few cases (in the region of 1% of payees) direct debits agreed via the An Post Household Budgeting system were added to the bonus payment, as well as being applied to a person’s normal weekly payment.
"The Department is working with An Post, the local authorities and housing associations to identify the people affected. In cases where rent was deducted, we are working to recover the amount deducted and arrange for a refund to the affected customers."
They stressed that they will have the refunds for rent with the customers no later than by the end of May.
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