social fund loans

Apples2

Tixy could probably give you more info on the SAR, she is posting on here so will be worth sending a PM.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/member.php?u=634607

From previous posts, the DCA's normally just bounce the SAR back. I think all they will have is your details and the amount owed.

You are correct though, the onus is most definitely on them to prove you owe it as opposed to you proving you don't.
Sometimes it is worth going that extra yard though before it goes to Court.

good luck

liannee22

Apples2 wrote: »

Tixy could probably give you more info on the SAR, she is posting on here so will be worth sending a PM.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/member.php?u=634607

From previous posts, the DCA's normally just bounce the SAR back. I think all they will have is your details and the amount owed.

You are correct though, the onus is most definitely on them to prove you owe it as opposed to you proving you don't.
Sometimes it is worth going that extra yard though before it goes to Court.

good luck

thanks very much x x

liannee22

just tried to pm tixy and it stated she has got no space in mail box to recieve any new messages, not to worry i will send the letter anyway x

Adereterial

I can confirm that DWP will respond to a SAR but it will need to be made in writing - I believe you can submit the request through your local Jobcentre and they'll forward it to where it needs to go.

They may ask you to confirm what you're after as sending everything DWP holds on an individual could run to several reams of paper, so the more specific you are about what you want to see the better.

liannee22

Adereterial wrote: »

I can confirm that DWP will respond to a SAR but it will need to be made in writing - I believe you can submit the request through your local Jobcentre and they'll forward it to where it needs to go.

They may ask you to confirm what you're after as sending everything DWP holds on an individual could run to several reams of paper, so the more specific you are about what you want to see the better.

thanks for that, i was just gonna send the letter from the link posted above. how would i specify the information i require? would i just send it to the social fund department. I have not got time to go to a job centre personally, i work mon-fri 8-4 i would rather post it recorded delivery.

Adereterial

liannee22 wrote: »

thanks for that, i was just gonna send the letter from the link posted above. how would i specify the information i require? would i just send it to the social fund department. I have not got time to go to a job centre personally, i work mon-fri 8-4 i would rather post it recorded delivery.

You will need to ask for details anything pertaining to your Social Fund records, rather than anything pertaining to your JSA/ESA/etc etc records. They'll give you those if you ask for them, but be prepared for reams of paper! You should ask them for clarification of any jargon etc too - Social Fund records are peppered with references to the legislation, directions, acronyms, etc etc and without that you'll not make sense of much. Again, they should provide this if you ask.

You should get a print out of your current debt level, a list of debts, the individual loan details which should specify what you asked for and how much you were awarded for each item and on what basis (things like 'reasonable amount' and 'No risk to H&S' will probably feature in this), a schedule of repayments, plus a notes screen, personal details screen, partners screen etc. You could also ask for any relevant notes from the Labour Market system but it's unlikely they'll still be there from that long ago.

The problem with sending is that there is no 'Social Fund department' per se - there's a policy section etc but Social Fund loans are administered from numerous contact centres and benefit processing centres across the country, thus no single address to write to. Your local Jobcentre will know exactly where it needs to go in your area - they're open till 5pm

fatbelly

liannee22 wrote: »

Anyway, i recieved a letter last september from the department of work and pensions stating that i owed them £368 from an over payment! I have not been on any benefits for over 12 years! so i called them and they said i had recieved 3 social fund loans in 1996 and 1997 and they wanted the money back in full :eek:

Just discovered this from CAB:

DWP guidance for decision makers states that recovery of a debt should be abandoned and the balance written off where the debt is:-
•under £25; or
•under £100 and at least six years have elapsed since the last repayment or deduction took place; or
•under £300 and at least ten years have elapsed since the last repayment or deduction took place; or
•over £300 and at least 20 years have elapsed since the last repayment or recovery took place.

Seems like you're £68 the wrong side of the border! I thought it was worth posting in case your research reveals the true balance to be under £300.

liannee22

fatbelly wrote: »

Just discovered this from CAB:

DWP guidance for decision makers states that recovery of a debt should be abandoned and the balance written off where the debt is:-
•under £25; or
•under £100 and at least six years have elapsed since the last repayment or deduction took place; or
•under £300 and at least ten years have elapsed since the last repayment or deduction took place; or
•over £300 and at least 20 years have elapsed since the last repayment or recovery took place.

Seems like you're £68 the wrong side of the border! I thought it was worth posting in case your research reveals the true balance to be under £300.

looks like ill have to hold out for another 5 yrs lol! thanks for finding that thou, i sent of my letters today fingers crossed! x