Deductions from benefits

Enoch_Botherington

Hi,

I have today received a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions, advising that owing to my local council claiming to have made a Housing Benefit overpayment to me that they will be deducting almost £50 a month from my benefits for over a year.

Please note that said council have made no attempt to contact me with regards to this and the first I became aware of this was receiving the DWP letter today.

Firstly, can anyone advise if the council are legally allowed to have this money taken from my benefits? If so can they request such an large amount of repayment?

I am having to claim benefits owing to an illness that currently severely prevents me from working and owing to said illness and having no support network where I live, I rely heavily on my benefits to be able to afford to attend frequent hospital and doctor appointments as well as being able to live on a day to day basis. Having them deduct such an amount will not only push me further into debt but prevent me from being able to attend appointments that are important to my recovery.

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated,

anmarj

If the council has obtained a warrent then yes they can ask the dwp to take from benefits. Cant remember if council is a set amount, but if you cant afford it you need to speak to the council about reduced payments

pmlindyloo

Enoch_Botherington wrote: »

Hi,

I have today received a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions, advising that owing to my local council claiming to have made a Housing Benefit overpayment to me that they will be deducting almost £50 a month from my benefits for over a year.

Please note that said council have made no attempt to contact me with regards to this and the first I became aware of this was receiving the DWP letter today.

Firstly, can anyone advise if the council are legally allowed to have this money taken from my benefits? If so can they request such an large amount of repayment?

I am having to claim benefits owing to an illness that currently severely prevents me from working and owing to said illness and having no support network where I live, I rely heavily on my benefits to be able to afford to attend frequent hospital and doctor appointments as well as being able to live on a day to day basis. Having them deduct such an amount will not only push me further into debt but prevent me from being able to attend appointments that are important to my recovery.

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated,

Yes, they are allowed to deduct this money from ongoing benefits.

However, the first thing you need to do is contact your local council and explain that you have had no written correspondence about this. They should tell you what letters have been sent out and when. Check that they have the right address for you.

Ask for the letters to be resent so that you can check that you have had an overpayment and the reasons why.

Murphybear

Sorry I don't know about deductions but if you are on a means tested benefit such as income related ESA, JSA, Pension Guarantee Credit or Income Support you can claim travel costs for Hospital/GP appointments. Full details are on the NHS Choices website.

pmlindyloo

This is one borough overpayment strategy:

http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/the_council/delivery_strategies_and_review/housing/housing_benefit_overpayment.aspx