Used underpayment to pay disputed overpayment

HMB47

Will try to keep this succinct.

I was informed of an overpayment in 2014 for which they have been taking money each week from the current claim despite my appealing using the correct forms and writing to them. They never respond! That's point one.

This year I was notified they had underpaid me a considerable amount - their error. The award stated I would receive the underpaid amount. However, they have taken this underpayment and offset it against the disputed overpayment. Are they allowed to do this?

Last year was a real struggle as I was only getting half what I should have had due to their miscalculation and I have got into arrears with other bills because of this.

pmlindyloo

HMB47 wrote: »

Will try to keep this succinct.

I was informed of an overpayment in 2014 for which they have been taking money each week from the current claim despite my appealing using the correct forms and writing to them. They never respond! That's point one.

This year I was notified they had underpaid me a considerable amount - their error. The award stated I would receive the underpaid amount. However, they have taken this underpayment and offset it against the disputed overpayment. Are they allowed to do this?

Last year was a real struggle as I was only getting half what I should have had due to their miscalculation and I have got into arrears with other bills because of this.

Unless one of our 'experts' gives any other information I suggest that you have a read of this:

http://revenuebenefits.org.uk/tax-credits/guidance/how-to-deal-with-hmrc/dealing-with-debt/

and then take all of your paperwork to CAB so that they can find out what happened about the dispute and whether anything can be done about the offsetting if it is causing financial hardship.