Liability for overpaid benefit?

pineapple

I was on contribution JSA for about 6 months last year - plus I got one mortgage payment before starting work.
Two months after starting work I get a request from 'Debt Management' for repayment of overpaid income based JSA - supposedly because I was working in December 09.
I replied to two separate departments that I had never been on income based JSA, nor had I worked during that period!
Three months on with no response, I sent an official complaint by recorded delivery. Two weeks later I got a reply saying they had been given wrong information and apparently it was to do with too much capital! I can only think this must be to do with the mortgage payment. Or maybe it's the council tax rebate. Whatever - I always gave them the correct figures. Now apparently it is all on hold till August while they check their figures.
So my question is, if it comes to it, am I liable for any repayment. And if so, can I negotiate a gradual repayment?

bestpud

If it their error, they will often write it off.

If you have failed to notify them of anything, you will have to repay it.

You more than likely can arrange to repay in installments, yes.

Do you still have all the paperwork?

FactualGnome

Was it a Mortgage Protection Payment? If so its counted as income, even if you pay it out straight away? Technically it would nil your benefit so any payment you received from JSA you shouldnt have been entitled to.

pineapple

No I have never had mortgage protection.
And all capital was declared at the time.
Any mistake was theirs.
I just got the standard JSA, some council tax benefit and (eventually) one payment towards my mortgage.
Yes I have just about all my paperwork I think!
It's not so much about the sum (around £300) to be repaid - it's the principle.
Especially as I am one of the good guys (daft?) who took a part time low paid job just to get myself off the system.
I think the fact that I resorted to a letter by recorded delivery to find out what was happening should tell them something!
Cheers

andyandflo

pineapple wrote: »

No I have never had mortgage protection.
And all capital was declared at the time.
Any mistake was theirs.
I just got the standard JSA, some council tax benefit and (eventually) one payment towards my mortgage.
Yes I have just about all my paperwork I think!
It's not so much about the sum (around £300) to be repaid - it's the principle.
Especially as I am one of the good guys (daft?) who took a part time low paid job just to get myself off the system.
I think the fact that I resorted to a letter by recorded delivery to find out what was happening should tell them something!
Cheers

Hi, I'm a little confused here, you say that you were on contribution based JSA but then you say you had one payment towards your mortgage. Am I not right in thinking that Mortgage Interest Relief only applies if you claim income based JSA?

busy_mom_2

andyandflo wrote: »

Hi, I'm a little confused here, you say that you were on contribution based JSA but then you say you had one payment towards your mortgage. Am I not right in thinking that Mortgage Interest Relief only applies if you claim income based JSA?

That's what I though, plus contribution based doesn't ask about capital.