Advice Urgently Needed - Overpayment of Jobseekers (Do I have any rights?)

james2311

Hi,

I am in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance. I got a job working 15 hours a week in November. I went into the Job Centre and told them the day I got the job. Also wrote it on my 'looking for work' document.

Received my bank statement today and they seem to have overpaid about 6 weeks benefit. As far as I'm concerned it's their mistake but doubt they'll see it that way! Any advice on what to do or even do I have any rights as it was their negligent mistake?

I should point out I'm signing off next week as I'm starting uni but I dont what this to bite me in years to come.

Thanks in advance,

Jim

Vader123

Received my bank statement today and they seem to have overpaid about 6 weeks benefit

You only just noticed you were still being paid after 6 weeks?

Did you not see it before then? Did you not sign on at least 3 times?

Presumably if you didn't know it was there you have not spent it?

Sometimes when its their mistake you don't have to pay it back, but it needs to be alerted to ASAP.

far as I'm concerned it's their mistake

At the old "its THEIR mistake" mantra.

Yet when its people own mistakes its "It was a genuine mistake, we are all human" etc.

1) Alert them to the overpayment
2) Keep the money safe.


Vader

james2311

Well like I said I only received my bank statement today. (No the monies did not appear on my mini statement.) I have spent some of it over Christmas and the rest I had thought was mine to pay my fees next week.

I'm not sure what signing on three times has to do with it. The money was paid into a bank account.

I acknowledge it's all well and good to blame them when it's their mistake but from my point of view I was upfront, honest and made them aware of my change of circumstance twice. I am now in a really worrying positon of trying to find money to pay my fees.

healy

james2311 wrote: »

Well like I said I only received my bank statement today. (No the monies did not appear on my mini statement.) I have spent some of it over Christmas and the rest I had thought was mine to pay my fees next week.

I'm not sure what signing on three times has to do with it. The money was paid into a bank account.

I acknowledge it's all well and good to blame them when it's their mistake but from my point of view I was upfront, honest and made them aware of my change of circumstance twice. I am now in a really worrying positon of trying to find money to pay my fees.

Surely you must have noticed you had more to spend than you expected unless you had a high balance and did not need to check.

Oldernotwiser

If you didn't know it was going in, then surely it's still there?

dmg24

james2311 wrote: »

I acknowledge it's all well and good to blame them when it's their mistake but from my point of view I was upfront, honest and made them aware of my change of circumstance twice. I am now in a really worrying positon of trying to find money to pay my fees.

So what? Why does this mean you should not pay it back?

james2311

I checked my bank balance and worked with cash available. And spent accordingly. So like I said I spent some of it over Christmas.

dmg24

james2311 wrote: »

I checked my bank balance and worked with cash available. And spent accordingly. So like I said I spent some of it over Christmas.

If you checked your bank balance and it was down £300, would you just accept that, as you have done on this occasion, or would you question it because the deduction was not to your benefit?

james2311

dmg24 wrote: »

So what? Why does this mean you should not pay it back?

No but I'd read some awful posts on people being interrogated, official warnings and things going on files.

I am annoyed and feel I have a right. I checked my balance, I had no other outgoings so spent some if it. I did not allow for jsa fcuk ups.

james2311

Could anyone offer assistance with the question in hand? When I say this to the Job Centre will I be given the chance to repay over time? Will this appear on my file? Will I be accused of fraud!!!!!

dmg24

james2311 wrote: »

No but I'd read some awful posts on people being interrogated, official warnings and things going on files.

I am annoyed and feel I have a right. I checked my balance, I had no other outgoings so spent some if it. I did not allow for jsa fcuk ups.

I would take this as a learning experience to be more aware of what money you should or should not have in your bank account.

You will not get a warning or further action if you advise the JCP of their error as soon as you have become aware of it i.e. now.