Pension Credit Demand for Overpayment Yet Will Not Respond

CatMomma

Please can somebody help me? 

Two weeks ago I got a shocking letter from the DWP saying they need me to repay £1,700 for what they claim is overpaid Pension Credit. Some of the figures they used are clearly wrong. I have tried and tried to contact them - phone calls, and last week I sent two letters by registered mail, but still no response. I now have two weeks before they force the repayment, and I am frantic.

I suffer badly with depression and anxiety and this is making me ill. I don't know where to turn. If only the DWP would contact me I could show them their error.

I was told on the first phone call that they would contact me within 10 days. This was over the Easter weekend so of course I had to discount five days as not "working days". Then I phoned again and was told they would phone me in five days. Still nothing.

Every day is a nightmare, waiting to hear from them. I would send them a packet of documentation, but I feel it's time and money wasted until I know who to send it to.

Their letter had NO return address, just the website, and the only phone number they gave was for "arranging to repay".
I have searched online, all the usual websites and the Citizen's Advice websites, written to Welfare Rights. Nobody is able to give a definitive answer as to how to contact the Pension Credit team who are responsible for this demand. There are so many different addresses and phone numbers! It's anybody's guess where to write or call.
I'm at my wit's end now. Please can someone help me?

poppy12345

Try this.. https://findpensioncentre.dwp.gov.uk/ I always find the best time to ring DWP is first thing in the morning when they open.

tomtom256

Make an offical complaint and get your MP involved, this normally illicits a quickish response.

Pollycat

Could this be a scam?

You say there was no address on the letters - what address did you send the letters to?

For those knowledgeable people on here:

would the DWP only give 1 month for repayment?

And would they 'force' the repayment within a month?

poppy12345

Pollycat said:

Could this be a scam?

You say there was no address on the letters - what address did you send the letters to?

For those knowledgeable people on here:

would the DWP only give 1 month for repayment?

And would they 'force' the repayment within a month?

I would say it's very unlikely. Also just read this again and noted this ...

CatMomma said:

 and the only phone number they gave was for "arranging to repay".

CatMomma

Pollycat said:

Could this be a scam?

You say there was no address on the letters - what address did you send the letters to?

For those knowledgeable people on here:

would the DWP only give 1 month for repayment?

And would they 'force' the repayment within a month?

In place of the address, they only gave the government website link. But when I phoned, they seemed to know what i was talking about, and the information in the letter was about me, so I don't believe it was a scam. I wish it was! Their standard practise is to demand repayment within one month, and if you "ignore" the letter they can start the process to recover the money. After my phone calls and letters I only hope they know I am not ignoring it, but without them contacting me further, how can I be sure??  I am suffering agonies here, crying every day and unable to get it off my mind. I just need to be able to speak to someone at the DWP who will listen to me - but without a phone number or address, what more can i do?

Pollycat

OK.

Have you tried the link in the first reply you had?

CatMomma

Pollycat said:

OK.

Have you tried the link in the first reply you had?

Hi, yes I have used that link and many more, everything I could find through Google and on the Government website. I looked up the Pension Credit address for my postcode and used that to send my letter to them, but these days there seem to be few if any phone numbers listed, apart from the Helpline (which I have used to little effect.) They seem to want to avoid personal contacts, but in my case, what else can I do to prove my case?

sheramber

According to this https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Benefits-Overpayment/How-is-an-overpayment-recovered

DWP are not asking people to repay overpayments.

Pollycat

So that helpful link raises the questions:

why are you being asked to pay this money back at this time?

why are 'DWP' threatening to force repayment of the £1700?

The link says DWP can recover money that has been overpaid by taking it from your benefits - for pension credit it is a maximum of £11.25 a week (or £29.60 a week where the overpayment was due to fraud or you have agreed to a civil penalty - which I don't think is the case for you as you state DWP claim you've been overpaid Pension Credit and you believe they are wrong).

So are you still in receipt of pension credit?

If you are, why aren't DWP recovering the money from the benefits they are still paying you (at a maximum of £11.25 per week) if they are so sure you have been overpaid?

sheramber

Assuming the letter is genuine and not a scam