21 year old DWP debt

stork1965

A friend has just started to receive mail about a £1700 debt from DWP. They have no recollection of the debt due and due to its age, what it was supposed to be for. Can a debt this old be upheld? It claims to be from overpaid job seekers or something like this. We have no other information as yet, but the person has reading and writing issues. Mail puts him into a panic attack, so his wife dealt with all correspondence until she passed recently. I am trying to sort out his paperwork for him, as he has received these CCSCollect letters. Can anyone help please?

sourcrates

Hi,

If it's over 20 years old this debt, it's usual DWP policy not to pursue it.
Check out there website and look at the section on recovering old debts.

Then you should write to the DCA and point this out.

Looks like this may of slipped through the net, and they just need to be made aware of the debts age and there own policies.

Torry_Quine

They need to ask for all the information about the debt to try and see if that helps remember. Were they on any benefit around that time.

It can be claimed at any time from any benefit including future state pension so they can't ignore this.

National_Debtline

Hi

It’s a good idea to request more information in writing. Also ask them to stop pursuing as it’s over 20 years, as suggested above.

If the DWP don’t agree to stop pursuing the overpayment, you could try complaining about the amount of time taken to attempt recovery on the basis of maladministration. You would need to make a complaint to the DWP directly first of all, and you can then take your complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. They can investigate maladministration and delays by the DWP.

James
@natdebtline

Leelee75

Hi, we are in the same boat. The DWP has sent us a letter saying we owe them money from 1996/1997 which I know we don't owe as we paid off the debt years and years ago. Problem I have is I have no proof. I work for an accountants and I've always understood you only need to keep paperwork for 6 years even when it comes to paying your taxes to the government etc so how can they come back at you for a debt 20 years on? It is ridiculous to expect us to have the details from that time. I can't believe they can come back at you this long on. In our letter it said they have changed the arrangements they made for us to pay back our social fund payment. They can't have changed it as it doesn't exist!!! Can they really expect you to know the date you paid off the loans and have proof of it this long on? I actually remember the phone conversation I had with the man on the phone saying I wanted to settle what we owed. The reason it sticks in my mind so much is that he was shocked we were paying it off. He told me no one ever pays these off!!!! I know I would have wrote a cheque to pay it and checked that it cleared at the time but I have no paperwork to prove it.
What can I do?
Thanks.