Benefits Overpayment

ChrisSmith72

Hi,

I today received a letter from the DWP advising that I have been overpaid Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit by £861.75 and are requesting I pay it back at £15.30 per week which I cannot afford.

I am currently on ESA & low rate PIP owing to the fact I suffer from agoraphobia and rely solely on my benefits to be able to live on a day to day basis. Not only do I rely on having everything I require delivered to me which is extremely costly, should I need to attend a doctors/cognitive behavioural therapists appointment or need to travel somewhere I have to use taxis due to the severity of my agoraphobia and the fact I have no support network to assist me. This means that most of my benefits are accounted for.

I called the DWP today who were less than helpful and was told that there was nothing they could do to lower this, however I have been advised otherwise by a friend.

Is there a minimum amount that I can offer them that they have to accept? Should they not be willing to lower this amount, it will mean having to choose between being able to live on a day to day basis or being able to continue receiving the treatment which will ultimately mean I will be able to stop claiming benefits eventually.

Any constructive advice will be greatly appreciated.

Kindest regards

NYM

You should contact them and explain your situation. They may reduce the payments.

ChrisSmith72

NYM wrote: »

You should contact them and explain your situation. They may reduce the payments.

I have and was told there was nothing they can do.

pmlindyloo

How have the housing benefit overpayments arisen?

pmlindyloo

These are the guidance notes for recovery

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/405550/hbopg-part-4-recovery-of-overpayments.pdf

There are various different options available to your council but councils do have different policies as regarding these.

If you can visit CAB (choose one with a benefits specialist) they will be able to put a case forward for you.

The reason for my previous post was to check that the overpayment was accurate.

ChrisSmith72

pmlindyloo wrote: »

How have the housing benefit overpayments arisen?

This was owing to them continuing to pay me even though I had moved and another council had taken over my housing benefits payments.

pmlindyloo

ChrisSmith72 wrote: »

This was owing to them continuing to pay me even though I had moved and another council had taken over my housing benefits payments.

Did you notify then that you had moved and another council had taken over your payments?

Have you evidence of your notifying them?

Was your HB paid directly to the landlord?

benniebert

ChrisSmith72 wrote: »

Hi,

I today received a letter from the DWP advising that I have been overpaid Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit by £861.75 and are requesting I pay it back at £15.30 per week which I cannot afford.

I am currently on ESA & low rate PIP owing to the fact I suffer from agoraphobia and rely solely on my benefits to be able to live on a day to day basis. Not only do I rely on having everything I require delivered to me which is extremely costly, should I need to attend a doctors/cognitive behavioural therapists appointment or need to travel somewhere I have to use taxis due to the severity of my agoraphobia and the fact I have no support network to assist me. This means that most of my benefits are accounted for.

I called the DWP today who were less than helpful and was told that there was nothing they could do to lower this, however I have been advised otherwise by a friend.

Is there a minimum amount that I can offer them that they have to accept? Should they not be willing to lower this amount, it will mean having to choose between being able to live on a day to day basis or being able to continue receiving the treatment which will ultimately mean I will be able to stop claiming benefits eventually.

Any constructive advice will be greatly appreciated.

Kindest regards

So where is the £861.75 now? Surely you haven't spent it knowing that it was not due to you?

rogerblack

benniebert wrote: »

So where is the £861.75 now? Surely you haven't spent it knowing that it was not due to you?

Likely it will have been paid to the landlord.

benniebert

rogerblack wrote: »

Likely it will have been paid to the landlord.

Right so the landlord should hand it back to the OP for them to send it onwards to the LA?


But then the OP would owe the landlord for rent that had not been paid which would be the OP's responsibility.


So going round in circles the OP will have to find the money in any event.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

What DWP Office has written to you?