A WIDOWER has said he is ‘shocked and angry’ after receiving a request from the State for €5.90 to cover an overpayment in his late wife’s pension.
Peadar Daly told Joe Duffy on RTÉ’s Liveline he had no problem paying the small sum, but was upset about the timing of the letter so soon after his wife Margaret’s death.
The couple form Co. Clare were due to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this year.
3 months after Peadar's wife Peggy died, he got a letter saying he had to repay a €5.90 overpayment on Peggy's pension. After Peadar spoke on #liveline today, he got a call from the state body that sent the letter, and he's hoping they'll change their policy now @talktojoe1850 pic.twitter.com/cM7pzR6DoO
— Liveline (@Liveline_RTE) 7 March 2018
Margaret, known as Peggy, worked as a cleaner in a garda station for 18 years and received a pension of €3.75 every two weeks, as well as a partial State Pension.
Peader received the letter last week from the Payroll Shared Services Centre, asking for her death cert to be sent so it could be copied, as well as the repayment of €5.90.
The figure relates to two pension payments totalling €7.51 made after Margaret’s death last October, minus €1.61 she was owed.
Peadar's wife Peggy died 4 months ago - they would have been 50 years married this year. Peadar was shocked at a letter he got last week regarding Peggy's pension. He told Joe what was in it. #liveline @talktojoe1850 pic.twitter.com/9QVxyxlOfF
— Liveline (@Liveline_RTE) 7 March 2018
Peader told Duffy’s Liveline show: “I was shocked and angry, I couldn't believe that someone would send out a letter for a repayment that small.
"I didn't notify them about her death right away because it was the least of my troubles but she was getting that money every two weeks, €3.75.”
He added: “Did they expect me to sit down straight away after my wife had died to let them know? I'd forgotten about them."
A spokesperson for the Payroll Shared Service Centre told the Irish Independent they were sorry for any hurt caused.
They added that while there is currently no minimum amount below which repayment is not sought, the issue is being clarified.
