UC claiming overpayment

later

Hello, has anybody received erroneous letters from UC saying that they'd had an overpayment?

I got a letter today saying they've overpaid £102, because I'd received a payment from a period of time 'when I'd already received a payment'. The only payment I got from them, was the normal payment on my first cycle, then an addition where they'd forgotten childcare (£106). The second two payments have been about right - except for number 3 where again they'd forgotten childcare and added it on later (£60).

Am I entitled to ask for a breakdown of this overpayment? They've not responded, but I've checked my bank and it all adds up.

The only overpayment for those three days, were from Tax Credits where they failed to stop but I think that's about £150. And I'm paying that back already.

huckster

Best way to is to make a complaint on the Gov.uk website. Then it will go to a dedicated complaints team, where they can check all information e.g. UC and Tax Credits.

I think you might struggle to obtain a written breakdown contacting UC directly.

later

Thank you. I've done that now. I didn't realise there was such a procedure.

It's bizarre, because the UC team keep requesting childcare information, so I do a payment sheet online, then the next month all of the information is missing even though I both entered into the system and send a confirmation letter from the childcare provider. They're paying me based on this information once I prod them to verify it, but there seems to be absolutely no common sense.

One woman kept writing to me saying I needed to prove I'd paid £100 and couldn't seem to fathom that the amount on the invoice came to £100, and £10 of it was a voucher, therefore what left my bank was £90. She was refusing to calculate the £90 because the invoice said £100, even though the invoice clearly states that £10 is already accounted for! I had to phone up (on hold for an hour) to get somebody else to bloody sort that!

speedfreek1000

You're going to have to request your information via a SAR to the DWP.

See here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-your-personal-information-from-the-department-for-work-and-pensions

Unfortunately UC only shows the claimant the last benefit calculation... all previous ones exist but can only be seen by somebody accessing your record at the DWP.

In order for you to see them you have to ask for them. You will then have to figure out the if their calculations are correct yourself.

naturaljazz

My current complaint has taken the best part of 4 months to date. An MR is the usual procedure where you do not agree with a UC decision. The complaint also goes in as you have done, but do an MR too. If Full service I do mine on the Journal and always send it in the post as well to Wolverhampton (address on Journal or on letters). Belts and Braces is the way with UC. I have one overpayment mistake from July 2017 and is not finished yet. All the best.

later

It turns out it's not necessarily the fault of UC. My LA sent a statement in a few months ago saying I owe £160 for 4 days. This sounded odd as I only got £800 per month. This is the usual thing they do when you move to UC.

THEN when UC sent a letter asking if I owed any money, they sent another document saying I owe £102.

The £102 is paid off, from the last two payments.

Interestingly, they haven't taken any deductions from this month, even though I have an old social fund debt from when I was 18. When I contacted UC, they basically said they had no idea why and I needed to contact debt management. Debt management said they have no idea why and I need to contact UC.

Apparently nobody knows why the deductions haven't came out. Blooming heck.

naturaljazz

I rang Live Service they had no idea about my overpayment, I rang Full Service and they had no idea and said to call Debt Management... who said they did not know, even though it is they who take the money from my monthly payments in error!
I then made a complaint via the Complaints Team 3 and they just rang Debt Management, who have of course upheld the incorrect amount they say I owe (they say it is £259.59 I owe DWP, it is in fact £11.60 and I have shown all the evidence to prove that). So I applied to the Tribunal again, waiting that decision. Non of them know anything, it is a dreadful state of affairs. My case goes back to last July 2017 and I am still fighting it. Keep going.