Social welfare overpayments worth €25.6m made to dead people were uncovered by the Department of Social Protection in 2025. Of this, nearly €24.7m related to pension overpayments to over 1,500 pensioners who had passed away. Another €668,919 was overpaid to 34 people receiving carers’ allowance, while disability allowance payments worth €940,595 were overpaid to 39 people. A widow’s pension worth €11,438 was overpaid to one widow, while illness benefit overpayments of €59,336 were linked to 93 people. He said that when there is an outstanding social welfare overpayment or a new overpayment is discovered, the Department of Social Protection will “pursue the overpayment from the estate of the customer”.

Source: Irish Examiner March 24, 2026 09:00 UTC