Benefit Overpayment please help ..please do not judge me

KeaneFan10

hello all i have had a rather large overpayment which when i found out i owed this i was on the phone to set up a payment plan with debt management they told me that i needed to pay £150 a month which i have and i have not missed a payment and been paying for 6 months, last week i was told i was going to court for this overpayment, if i plead guilty too it i was being fined £100 if i say not guilty its £250, why would i say i wasn't guilty if i have agreed and am paying them what they have asked ??
I know what i have done was wrong i am scared to death of going to court as i have two children one of which is severely disabled ...will they take my children from me will i go to prison ..please do not judge me all i am asking is for advice and help

McKneff

Stop worrying, you wont ever go to prison. You wont lose your children.

Who told you you were going to court. Do you have this in writing, Do you have a court date, it seems very strange to be going to court if you are paying the overpayment off monthly.

Could i suggest you either go to the CAB for advice or you can get half an hours free consultation with a solicitor.
Which idiot told you that you would be fined £100 if you plead guilty and £250 if you plead not guilty. How can they say you will be fined if you plead not guilty and you are found not guilty. You are then innocent.

Just stop worrying for the sake of your children, they will be picking up on your stress.

KeaneFan10

McKneff wrote: »

Stop worrying, you wont ever go to prison. You wont lose your children.

Who told you you were going to court. Do you have this in writing, Do you have a court date, it seems very strange to be going to court if you are paying the overpayment off monthly.

I have had a letter and a file come through the post i was paying them £200 for a round 5 months then this month i told them it would have to go down to what they had originally asked for £150 a month

Could i suggest you either go to the CAB for advice or you can get half an hours free consultation with a solicitor.
Which idiot told you that you would be fined £100 if you plead guilty and £250 if you plead not guilty. How can they say you will be fined if you plead not guilty and you are found not guilty. You are then innocent.

There was a letter in with my file stating the the DWP had stated £100 if i plead guilty and £250 fine if i say not guilty ...why would i say i am not guilty if i am paying them back and never appealed ?

Just stop worrying for the sake of your children, they will be picking up on your stress.

Thanks i will i am a full time carer to my son whom is disabled so i am constantly stressed

jw2003

KeaneFan10 wrote: »

Thanks i will i am a full time carer to my son whom is disabled so i am constantly stressed

Are you getting all the benefits you are entitled to as a carer? DLA? Carers Allowance? The disability element of child Tax Credits?

KeaneFan10

jw2003 wrote: »

Are you getting all the benefits you are entitled to as a carer? DLA? Carers Allowance? The disability element of child Tax Credits?

Yes i have sorted out with this a few months ago thanks ... Thomas is 12 and he has severe autism he is also non verbal and still in nappies if i go to court it means my new partner losing a days pay because there will be no one there to get him off his bus and him losing a day means we will struggle to pay debt management their money
I have to add i have never had help with Thomas for years he hasn't slept a full night i am trying to stay strong and cope with this from the DWP and i know what i did was wrong and very stupid just feel as if i am coping alone i have contacted social services because of the stress of all this never thought i would ever have too

NASA_2

Which benefit was overpaid?

£150 a month seems a huge amount to be paying back.

What benefit are you on now?

jw2003

I can't understand why they would threaten you with court if you are meeting your re-payments, call them and see if you can sort something out. Maybe your money has been going to the wrong department or something like that. Surely they will be able to provide you with a statement of payments or arrears. Also, check your bank statements to make sure the money has definitely been leaving your account - at times of stress it can be easy to overlook bills sometimes

Blackpool_Saver

KeaneFan10 wrote: »

i have contacted social services because of the stress of all this never thought i would ever have too

Is this for a carers assessment?

KeaneFan10

NASA wrote: »

Which benefit was overpaid?

£150 a month seems a huge amount to be paying back.

What benefit are you on now?

It was income support i foolishly never declared that my partner had moved in permanent i know its my fault i want to pay back what i owe and move on but i can't they agreed this payment i accepted now they are taking me to court ...
My partner earns £250 a week
i get carers allowance child tax credits

KeaneFan10

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

Is this for a carers assessment?

Yes Blackpool saver i have asked them they said there is a wait of around 12 weeks in our area

KeaneFan10

jw2003 wrote: »

I can't understand why they would threaten you with court if you are meeting your re-payments, call them and see if you can sort something out. Maybe your money has been going to the wrong department or something like that. Surely they will be able to provide you with a statement of payments or arrears. Also, check your bank statements to make sure the money has definitely been leaving your account - at times of stress it can be easy to overlook bills sometimes

Hi thanks for replying ..i had a letter from the debt team and my balance has gone down by around £1000 since i knew how much i owe so i know its getting to them