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Debt recovery sale of house

Hi
A husband and wife were in receipt of income based ESA and unfortunately were overpaid due to a pension income of the husband not being declared.

He died five years ago, and debt recovery sent a letter demanding payment from the estate. There was no money in the estate, only their property that they lived in which passed to the wife automatically as they were joint owners (not tenants in common).

When informed of this, debt recovery decided not to chase the debt. However the wife has since lost the paperwork and cannot remember what exactly was said.

She is now looking to sell the property and would like to know if DWP debt recovery are likely (or able to) chase for the overpayment on the sale.

We have checked the title deeds and there is no charge listed apart from the original mortgage.

Also the benefit claim was in the husbands name not the wife’s (although of course they received the payment for a couple). So now that the property belongs to her, can they demand repayment of his debt following the sale?

If anyone has experienced a similar situation we would be very grateful for advice.

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