Overpayment of jobseekers allowance, help!!

Babalon88

I NEED PEOPLES ADVICE ON THIS !!!

I have recieved a letter through the post regarding an overpayment of jobseekers allowance.

The amount overpaid is £1019!!! (apparently)

I cannot see how this can be valid, this has acrued from dates aug 09 to dec 09. But in that time i have calculated from my bank statements that i only recieved £944 in total of jobseekers allowance.

I cannot understand how the overpaid amount there asking for is more than what i have recieved from then during that time. (this has to be wrong, surely)

I need help here, as this is from DWP and it's worrying me.

This is due to working 11.5 hours a week but not informing Job Centre i was doing so. I was under the impression that i only had to state i was working if it was over 16 hours, as i know that is when you cannot claim any longer.

Please someone help! So i can contact them with vital information.

Thanks in advance

Natasha

dmg24

Posted on your other thread, please continue your responses on this new thread:

You were wrong in assuming that you could work up to sixteen hours without it affecting your claim, and you should have clarified your understanding with the Jobcentre. Were you given an administrative penalty? Ask them for a breakdown of the payment, and then arrange a repayment plan.

Robbie64

The amount of JSA you received may not be the same as the amount you were entitled to for that period - did you have any deductions for a Social Fund payment (eg for a Crisis Loan or a Budgeting Loan)? If not then you will need to ask them for a breakdown of the overpayment.

Babalon88

Thanks i will do that,

do either of you know about how jsa you get paid when working aswell?

that information would be helpful.

Babalon88

Also who do i contact, DWP or job centre?

Robbie64

The jobcentre will be the best people to contact.

When working you are allowed to keep a very small amount of JSA (£5 for a single person) and then your JSA is reduced £ for £ for everything you earn.

For example, earn £50 and your JSA will be reduced by £45 (if single).

Lady_gaga

you know the part when you sign on every fortnight and your asked have you done ANY work paid or unpaid since you last signed on? that's when you were meant to tell them you were working...
even on minimum wage working 11.5 hours a week would take you over the single persons allowance for JSA...

Babalon88

but can the overpaid be more than the actual amount i have recieved from them in that time? that's the bit i do not understand.

all i was aware is that i can work UP TO 16 hours a week and still claim, i have never for like the 3 years i have signed on and off been told about "but whatever you earn this is all you will get."

And no Lady_gaga they did not say that, on the occasions i was in signing i was out within 2mins. I declared 15.5 hours from a full time job that i obtained (after i knew about this that you HAVE to do so), and got all my jobseekers allowance with no problem, it seems because i didnt declare i'm getting this overpaid amount malarky.

Robbie64

Babalon88 wrote: »

but can the overpaid be more than the actual amount i have recieved from them in that time? that's the bit i do not understand.

all i was aware is that i can work UP TO 16 hours a week and still claim, i have never for like the 3 years i have signed on and off been told about "but whatever you earn this is all you will get."

And no Lady_gaga they did not say that, on the occasions i was in signing i was out within 2mins. I declared 15.5 hours from a full time job that i obtained (after i knew about this that you HAVE to do so), and got all my jobseekers allowance with no problem, it seems because i didnt declare i'm getting this overpaid amount malarky.

I may not have made clear what I meant - the amount you you were paid by JSA - was this less than the amount you were entitled to? Were you repaying a Social Fund loan which reduced your fortnightly payments? If so the DWP will class the amount you were entitled to and not the amount you were paid as the overpaid amount. This may account for the difference in the two amounts.

How much were you being paid each fortnight? If less than £101.90 (if aged under 25) or £128.60 (25+) then you had a deduction for something in place.

Edit: these two amounts are the basic personal allowances for single people.

Driving_Soon

Hey

Do they state in the letter how they found out about the 11 hours work you did? .... Did you inform them and that's why they sent the letter?

Lady_gaga

when you sign on, the bit of paper you sign has writing on it, saying you have to declare any work, I find it very hard to believe you thought you could work up to 16 hours AND get JSA...