Welfare can’t find 1 in 5 ‘liable relatives’

Almost one in five liable relatives in cases examined by the Department of Social Protection’s maintenance recovery unit (MRU) last year either could not be traced or their identity was unknown.

Figures from the department show an increase in the number of cases examined last year by the MRU, the job of which is to recover some or all of the maintenance money owed by a liable relative. In every case where a one-parent family payment is made, the MRU seeks to trace the liable relative to check if they can make a contribution — an assessment based on net income and with certain allowances deducted.

Anyone earning more than €13,450 a year comes under the terms of the assessment process, although some liable relatives are not pursued, due to personal circumstances or low incomes.