Legal Letter from DWP.. debt over 12 years ago

DelBoyPhil

I got a letter saying i owe £400 from a £419.99 social fund in 1997 however i think I paid it back but i cant prove it.

however im sure debts over 6 years are cancelled? is this correct?

Penny-Pincher!!

DelBoyPhil wrote: »

I got a letter saying i owe £400 from a £419.99 social fund in 1997 however i think I paid it back but i cant prove it.

however im sure debts over 6 years are cancelled? is this correct?

I am pretty sure that any DWP and goverment debt has no time limit on it...so the 6yr rule doesnt apply.

PP
xx

betterlatethannever

PennyPinchers correct, DWP debts don't get 'statute barred', unlike some other debts, so you need to contact them and arrange payment really.

LilacPixie

here is what national debtline have to say on the matter.

Benefit Overpayments & Social Fund Loans

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has six years to take action through the courts to recover benefit overpayments and social fund loans. This time starts running from the date of the final decision made on the overpayment and from when the social fund loan was due to be paid. But the DWP are still allowed to make deductions from your benefit for a debt over six years old as they don't need to go to court to do this. This applies to overpayments of benefit such as Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and paying back social fund loans.

ALIBOBSY

LP is right if you don't pay anything back now, if you ever claim any benefits they will start compulsary deductions.
I suppose you could write and ask for a statement to ask details about the debt, point out you thought it had been paid and see what they say, but without proof they will deduct if/when you next claim.

good luck

ali x