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DWP overpayment 14 years ago

I have received a letter from DWP,stating that I have been overpaid Incapacity Benefit from 14 years ago! September '98 to be exact.They now want to take this back from my disability allowance on a weekly basis.What can I do? I mean 14 years!! Can they do this???
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Comments

  • Yes they can.
  • zaksmum
    zaksmum Posts: 5,529 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    14 years does seem extreme though. Isn't there some kind of time barring legislation?
  • cabbage
    cabbage Posts: 1,177 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    No time barring with DWP overpayments. You can get rid of them through bankruptcy/DRO as long as you can prove its not fraud
    The Cabbage
    Its Advice - Take it or Leave it:D
  • rogerblack
    rogerblack Posts: 9,446 Forumite
    mamad wrote: »
    I have received a letter from DWP,stating that I have been overpaid Incapacity Benefit from 14 years ago! September '98 to be exact.They now want to take this back from my disability allowance on a weekly basis.What can I do? I mean 14 years!! Can they do this???

    On what basis do they claim it was overpaid?
    Do you believe that the overpayment is likely correct?
  • Torry_Quine
    Torry_Quine Posts: 18,887 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    they can take it back but I would be asking them to show me proof that I was actually overpaid.
    Lost my soulmate so life is empty.

    I can bear pain myself, he said softly, but I couldna bear yours. That would take more strength than I have -
    Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I totally agree with Torry Quine, they cant just take money from you without proof.
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • Are you in agreement that the overpayment was accurate? Or do you question this?

    How much is it claimed that you owe?

    Have they suggested a reasonable period to pay this back? - have you/are you able to negotiate this?
  • Poppa_G
    Poppa_G Posts: 100 Forumite
    I had a similar experience whereby they claimed I'd been overpaid by nearly £400. Two ladies from DWP came out to my house to hand me the letter, in which it explained that I could appeal within one month. I did so, and in the meantime DWP took payments of £50 a week, including an additional £100 due to the 'old computer error'.

    It was a while, but I won my appeal and they deposited the money into my Post Office account.

    My appeal was based on the lines that I felt it was unreasonable of them to expect me to know that I'd received too much Incapacity Benefit, when in the past the DWP had always adjusted my benefits automatically.

    Good Luck
  • tell them you'll pay it back over 14 years !!
  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    tell them you'll pay it back over 14 years !!

    Good idea:T:T:T
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
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