advice in housing benefits overpayment please

cattie1

SortingIt wrote: »

Hi,

Re your overpayment - I would ask them for a written statement of reasons for why you were overpaid, exactly what period it covered and confirmation of dates/notification letters etc that were sent to you so you can have all the facts.

I haven't got my letter with me today-but in the forst letter they sent they say "you were recently informed that you were overpaid benefits"-I honestly was not sent anything of the sort-they know if they had I would have been straight on to them!:o

It may be something they had calculated incorrectly on your claim/it may not.  I don't know your circumstances i.e when you were claiming etc and on what basis but I would def ask for the above first - put everything in writing to them & get a receipt for your proof - we all know how the post gets lost!!??

I notice a lot of information I give the council gets lost lately! I recently set up a direct debit for my rent and after they took the first payment they put it straight back in my bank and then sent a letter saying... "sorry we have lost your direct debit mandate, please could yo send us your information again!"
On a the second letter that was sent to me they gave me a load of mumbo jumbo about the dates of overpayments and admitting that there was a delay of informing me of this.I really need the letter to explain myself properly sorry!

[code]I would definately get your MP involved - it seems that you have had no end of trouble.  Make sure that you request that a hold on all recovery action is taken until you receive the necessary information.

Any questions of advice please feel free to ask - if I can help in anyway I will do!

I am guessing that they will say they notified you of the overpayment at the time and that you had a calendar month in which to appeal? Do you remember any correspondence? Also can you remember the circumstances? May be able to help more if know the situation.

Again - feel free to post of PM me if you want any further help - hopefully it will be of some use as it doesn't seem you are getting much luck with your local council[/code]!

thanks very much for that sortingit and thankyou very much beccysmum I may be taking you up on these kind offers!

edited to say-I do not know what on earht I have done!!! (I was trying to quote you seperately!!!)sorry!

cattie1

sorry I also meant to ask should I inform the benefits people that I am sending a letter of complaint about them to the ombudsman and the mp?