Repayment debt DWP

EC123

Hello,

I recently found myself unemployed during the period of May 2020-September 2020 during the first lockdown and so for the first time in my life I applied for an received basic Jobseeker’s Allowance. 

I found full time employment in September but since found out that I was overpaid these benefits. I was told that I would receive a letter stating how much I owed and details of how to pay this back. I accepted and requested to pay it back ASAP as the thought of being in debt makes me feel seriously stressed. 

After not receiving any further details or letter since this time (October) I’ve been feeling very anxious so I have done some research and found that the DWP can sometimes take 6 years to contact you about repayments?
I am wanting to apply for a mortgage at the end of this year as a first time buyer and do not want anything affecting my credit score. Would anyone be able to advise me on whether it would be best to contact the DWP myself and chase up this repayment, or just wait until they contact me- even if it is in 6 years time?
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks. 

moneyonmymindsam

You should be able to telephone them and they can tell you what you owe, you will be sent a letter asking for repayment. Contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Debt Management contact Centre.
It could be temporarily stopped due to covid so this is perhaps why you have not had the letter. 
Hope this helps,