Housing Benefit Overpayment

s33d

Just received a letter demanding £400 for a housing benefit overpayment from 2004!!!
It was 7 years ago, there's no explanation why or how and its been so long I can't remember if I was working or not as I was freelancing.

Help - shall I just ignore the letter?

pandaspot

no definitely dont ignore the letter, you have to contact the council and arrange repayment.

if you dont know where this overpayment has come from, ring them or write and ask for a written explanation into the overpayment.

there is no point burying your head in the sand cause the council will chase the debt until its paid.

i dont know what your current financial situation is but you can offer to pay £20 a month. i know we accept that as the minimum offer of repayment, depending on your current income

bargain_hunter_1964

First of all you need to ring the council to ask for a full breakdown of how this overpayment occurred, you have a right of appeal but you need the decision letter to enable you to lodge the appeal so when was the decision made as you only have one month to appeal. You need to ask why this has come to light now? If you need to challenge this decision you need to get an advice agency to help you perhaps CAB, it may be that you didnt claim housing benefit when you should etc.... without the facts its hard to determine what to do so ring the housing benefit section up on monday...DO NOT bury your head in the sand as things will only become worse.

pandaspot

think the op has lost there appeal rights. i took the post as they used to claim hb and hasnt done so for a while and the council have been working on old outstanding debts and have now found them? Might be wrong