The mother has said she was “appalled” and “hurt” by the letter.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has issued an apology after a “tone-deaf” letter demanding money was sent to a grieving mother.
Tracy McGinnis, who was a full-time carer to her son Brendan before his death in May at the age of 17, received a letter on Friday (10 June) from the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
Though the Department offered its condolences on her recent bereavement, the letter also stated that Tracy was required to return €208 from the disability allowance she had been paid the day after Brendan’s death.
Appearing on Newstalk’s The Anton Savage Show, Tracy said the letter left her feeling shocked, appalled, angry and hurt.
However, she added that she “probably shouldn’t be” shocked considering she spent “so many years fighting for everything” for her son.
“I spent 17 and a half years working 24/7 around the clock, literally [providing] nursing level care so that my son could have the best life possible considering he was so profoundly disabled,” Tracy told the programme.
“He was a happy, happy fella but his body just gave out.”
Tracy said she collected the disability allowance the week Brendan died because she thought payments would continue for six weeks after his death, though this rule only applies for spouses, civil partners or romantic co-inhabitants.
“The letter said I owed them back the €208 because it was paid the day after he died and I shouldn’t have collected it because his social benefits end the day he died,” Tracy stated.
“What makes a parent carer of an adult child any less dependent on that adult child’s disability allowance and related social welfare payments than if it was a spouse or a romantic partner?
“Because if he was a spouse or a romantic partner, those payments would continue for six weeks.
“I can tell you that as a lone parent carer for all of these years, having left a career behind, having no other source of income… to have everything cut off is… at the time my world is literally shattered.”
Appearing later on the programme, Humphreys said Tracy should not have received such a letter and that she has raised the issue with her officials.
“They’re going to look at how they handle cases like this in the future but for somebody to receive a letter like that a few weeks after their son died is tone-deaf,” she told the show.
“We have to do better and we have to ensure it doesn’t happen again and all I can do is apologise.
“I just extend my deepest sympathy to Tracy on the loss of her dear son Brendan and my heart goes out to her.”
The Minister was then asked if Tracy would have to pay back the money requested in the letter.
“Well as far as I’m concerned this is about common sense and compassion,” Humphreys replied.
“No, she won’t have to repay the money.”
Main image via Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
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