Benefits Overpayment

Delree

benniebert wrote: »

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.

This is incorrect, I have to deal with this argument in my job on an almost weekly basis.

Regardless of whether the benefit is paid to the tenant or direct to the landlord the claimant is responsible to pay back any overpayment.

If the benefit was paid to the tenant who then in turn paid the HA, would you then still insist the landlord pay the council back? Of course not.

By paying directly to the landlord you're simply removing a link in the chain, not changing the whole nature of the deal.

NYM

Does the DWP deal with Housing Benefits ?
I thought the Local Authorities dealt with claims directly.

rogerblack

Delree wrote: »

If the benefit was paid to the tenant who then in turn paid the HA, would you then still insist the landlord pay the council back? Of course not.

Plus, if it was rational that the landlord paid it back - they would have to be monitoring you continually to see if any terms of housing benefit were broken.
They'd need to mnitor to see if you're actually living in the property - know your emplyment and savings status, ...