The Department of Social Protection commenced issuing cost of living bonus payments to eligible customers this week. This was €200 cost of living bonus payment, in addition to customer’s normal weekly social welfare payment.
The full €200 cost of living payment was paid, but the Department is aware that in a small number of cases, direct debits agreed via the An Post Household Budgeting system were applied to the bonus payment, in addition to being applied to a person’s normal weekly payment. This has resulted in two household budgeting service deductions for rent being taken for some customers.
The Department has been working with An Post to determine those who are impacted and is working on developing a solution that will issue a refund to the affected customers where a second household budgeting direct debit was deducted from their cost of living bonus for rent. It is intended that this refund will be paid to affected customers by the end of May 2023.
As the Department of Social Protection is developing a consolidated solution to refund customers, Circle VHA are unable to process refunds to affected tenants as the Department of Social Protection will be seeking to recover these amounts directly from us (Circle).
If you have queries on this matter please email PaymentDelivery@welfare.ie.
