Being chased by DWP for £20 over payment of JSA from 2003

interstellaflyer

Over the last couple of months I have had three threatening letters from the DWP debt collection department, they claim I was over payed by £20 back in 2003, as I was unemployed from May 2003 until September 2004 you would have thought they would have adjusted it at the time. I can honestly say that this is the first I've heard of this over payment, certainly had no notices at the time, I did move house back in 2008, however that was still 5 years after the alleged over payment. Yes I know it's only £20 but there is a principle involved, not only does it show how inept many of the DWP staff are, it also shows that there is one rule for the DWP and another for us, by this I refer to me being 2 weeks past a 10 year deadline for claiming an industrial illness/injury benifit, I could have been considered for a one off payment if I could prove that the Job Center (Accrington) sent me for retraining, conveniently, Accrington Job Center had destroyed all records from that time, funny how they have no records of my training ie invoices from Accrington and Rossendale College, yet they have records of a £20 over payment from the same period.

SPELLKASTER

Its rather pathetic for the DWP to chase a "debt" of £20!!

It would cost them more to send in bailifs etc etc.

I cant see why you shouldn't just pay, or tell the DWP where to go.

I would also contact your local MP over this matter.

And maybe send them a nasty letter.

osdset

The DWP are currently trawling their back records in an attempt to recover every last penny that they think was paid out in error. Clutching at straws springs to mind!

I think you will find this 'debt' is now statute barred, which means that it's unenforceable, however should you claim any type of benefit in the future the DWP will claw the cash back through an attachment on benefits.

puppy999

That is a joke how much as it cost them to find the so called "£20" and how much as it cost in letters
sorry I would tell them to do one as its 10yrs can they cliam it back ?? and if they can offer 50p a week as they cant refuse

interstellaflyer

puppy999 wrote: »

That is a joke how much as it cost them to find the so called "£20" and how much as it cost in letters
sorry I would tell them to do one as its 10yrs can they cliam it back ?? and if they can offer 50p a week as they cant refuse

I phoned them up when I got the first letter back in February and mentioned the words 'Hell freezes over'

Yes it's only £20 and yes I could pay it, however based on the other stuff mentioned in my opening post regarding destroying records, I don't see why I should pay.

sammyjammy

If you ever make a claim to DWP benefits of any kind they can and will deduct repayments from that benefit.

missapril75

Might this be a balance remaining on a bigger overpayment?

There was always a rule about "small overpayments" where recovery was not pursued.

I remember when it was £4!! Last I knew, it was £25. Doesn't the rule exist any more?

rogerblack

interstellaflyer wrote: »

Yes it's only £20 and yes I could pay it, however based on the other stuff mentioned in my opening post regarding destroying records, I don't see why I should pay.

You will, in a few years, when you claim your pension.

tigerlily

missapril75 wrote: »

Might this be a balance remaining on a bigger overpayment?

There was always a rule about "small overpayments" where recovery was not pursued.

I remember when it was £4!! Last I knew, it was £25. Doesn't the rule exist any more?

That was my thought, anything under £65 is now written off but back then the amount would be lower. At the end of the day, if the money is owed then its owed!

[Deleted User]

sammyjammy wrote: »

If you ever make a claim to DWP benefits of any kind they can and will deduct repayments from that benefit.

inc state pension

missapril75

tigerlily wrote: »

That was my thought, anything under £65 is now written off but back then the amount would be lower. At the end of the day, if the money is owed then its owed!

£65 sounds quite generous. The £4 I remember was back in the 70s...about a third of single person rate then.

The £25 I remember...not sure when that came in but it was well before the 2003 mentioned by the OP.

Perhaps it was an "instrument of payment" thing like a giro. I recall the small OP/write off didn't apply to that.