Almost 1 in 10 people claiming PUP may not have been eligible

The Minister for Public Expenditure has said officials will review the checks.

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Nearly 1 in 10 people claiming the PUP may have been ineligible.

That's what the Comptroller and Auditor General has found after looking at a random sample of claims. It says the Department of Social Protection could have done more to confirm people's eligibility for the scheme.

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was brought in at the start of the pandemic to quickly get supports to people who lost their jobs due to Covid restrictions.

The three support schemes introduced cost the state €9 billion last year.

Now, analysis of a random sample of claims by the Comptroller and Auditor General has found 1 in 10 mightn't have been eligible. The department is also planning to recover any overpayments that might've been made over the coming months.

The Minister for Public Expenditure has said officials will review the checks and controls in place for the PUP.