Income Support Overpayed £14,000!!! HELP!!

alwaysonthego_2

To the op please report any abuse to [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]

Please do not worry about a prison sentence as it is not going to happen.

I have dealt with many people who have had overpayments with IS.

1) Visit the CAB with your paperwork who will help you;
2) Make sure the overpayment is correct and whether it can be appealed
3) Negotiate a payment paln I think the maximum they can make you pay back if you're on benefits is about £3ish. The DWP are asking for your incoming/outgoings as they realise you cannot afford to pay alot back.

AnxiousMum

I doubt very much there would be jail time, given that her mother is the OP's full time carer and parent. Particularly if it's a first time incident. I'm all against benefit fraud - but Moldy_plates......sometimes a little tact and compassion in amongst the facts is okay too you know - instead of a smiley face after the threat of facing jail!

OP - Get the figures checked at the CAB, and then make contact to make an arrangement to pay back IF it is something that needs to be paid back. Worrying about it is normal, but take control of the situation instead and you won't feel as stressed out about it.

merlin68

You do know that on income support you can claim the fares to hospital back. When you go take the benifit letter and your hospital appointment and they will reimburse you for the mileage.

DX2

merlin68 wrote: »

You do know that on income support you can claim the fares to hospital back. When you go take the benifit letter and your hospital appointment and they will reimburse you for the mileage.

The OP isn't on Income support her mother is, the OP is on incapacity benefit.

dannimaycox

I'm waiting for the expenditure forms to come through and then we are going to CAB, i really hope they can help, i really appreciate all of your advice, i feel better now i know that she won't be getting a jail sentence!

gizmo111

I would contact welfare rights and let them ascertain what you are enetitled to each and take it from there. This may just be a case of claiming the wrong benefit and the amounts may balance out. In the meantime don't worry too much.

woody01

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

£14,00 overpayment for a two year period would work out at about £135 per week. That's rather more than CTC and CB.

Just what i was thinking.
£14K for 2 years income support is not a true figure.
Also, i think that the OP's illness is clouding some peoples judgement on this.

Regardless of illness, there is something not being bought to the table here as the facts and figures just do not add up.

Atomised

Would it come to £14,000 if the op and her mother claimed IB and IS erroneouslyfor two years? Other than that I can't figure the sums out either.
I was told you can claim transport costs to hospital if on a low income and £20 seems a lot to spend on petrol per week for the odd visit/shop.
Anyway , hopefully the CAB will help.

sarahlouise210

OP... you have said that you are on IB but that your mother gets Careres allowance and IS .. that means that you must have DLA too. I dont want to appear uncompassionate but it really is your responsibility to be putting the petrol etc in her to take YOU to the hospital as you do have the funds for this.
The overpayment seems excessive if it just relates to Income Support so there may be other things included in the overpayment that you have not disclosed here (maybe perfectly innocently) as you are so young and have health issues you should not be burdening yourself with this - please visit the CAB with your mother - this will not go away sweetie

GlasweJen

I can't work out where this £14,000 overpayment is coming from, OP are you also claiming income support to top up your incapacity benefit? Is your mum getting any other premiums on the IS that you haven't mentioned? Are there any other dependants at home and does your mum get any other benefits/have any other income?

I can only think with the figures here that either the DWP have miscalculated the amount owed or the OPs mum is not entitled to income support at all.

Benefit fraud is punishable by a fine, criminal record or jail but it is unlikely in this case where the person seems willing to pay back the benefit and is the primary carer of a terminally ill child - they do take circumstances into account.

Some CABs do a telephone advice service and others can visit at home, you should see what your local CAB can offer as soon as possible.