Social welfare recipients are being 'hounded' by the Department
Cllr Michael Kilcoyne says Department of Social Protection officials are hounding social welfare recipients.
A Mayo councillor has accused the Department of Social Protection of "hounding" social welfare recipients.
Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne made the comments at a meeting of Mayo County Council’s Housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC). The Castlebar-based councillor said people’s bank accounts are being scrutinised and individuals who care for elderly parents are coming under the spotlight.
“There is no talk of the money the Government spent on a referendum they lost yet they can’t give people a few bob,” said Cllr Kilcoyne.
The long-serving councillor said he knows of one case of a person who had their medical card taken off them because they were €10 over the threshold.
Cllr Kilcoyne said social welfare recipients are being "put through hoops".
“The Minister should really examine what is happening in the Department,” he added.
The meeting heard details of the rent-a-room scheme where local authority tenants are able to rent out a room to a third-level student and earn up to €14,000 in rental income per year tax-free.
The income you receive must not exceed the exemption limit. If it does then you are taxed on the total amount.
However, Cllr Kilcoyne warned that those who avail of the scheme could face scrutiny given the Department of Social Protection's recent behaviour.
"People need to be careful about what they are doing because they can be storing up trouble down the road," he stated.
