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  • Hezy
    Hezy Posts: 18 Forumite
    10 Posts
    Hezy said:
    im not comfy with this money being anywhere near me to be honest, you could add a 0 to that and still not be there.
    Oh yikes, more than £60,000?  I see your problem!  In that case you'll just have to keep chasing - if you know what department it came from, can you send a copy of a bank statement (you can redact everything else if you want) along with a note to show them that yes this amount appears to have gone into your account?

    The other remote possibility might be a glitch either at their end or on your bank's end; I have no idea what or how but it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

    Make sure you keep a note of all the times you've phoned, who you've spoken to, etc. to prove that you've been trying to get the money returned as you genuinely believe it to not be yours.

    Edit: what benefits do you claim?
    Yes more than that. Already sent copys to the careers department. i've traced it to them from last years money. Bank said its seem all correct from there point of view, right person Ref''d and everything. called the head of the careers department. So got call times and photo proof with there details and my details ect. 

    All i receive atm is careers allowance. my wife is disabled and on full benefit. i have arthritis and a few other issues. we have careers coming to the house to help us and have top notch help from the council. But this is just to much to say ow well its a over payment have it back in out of my benefits. :''(
  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,879 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Hezy said:
    Hezy said:
    im not comfy with this money being anywhere near me to be honest, you could add a 0 to that and still not be there.
    Oh yikes, more than £60,000?  I see your problem!  In that case you'll just have to keep chasing - if you know what department it came from, can you send a copy of a bank statement (you can redact everything else if you want) along with a note to show them that yes this amount appears to have gone into your account?

    The other remote possibility might be a glitch either at their end or on your bank's end; I have no idea what or how but it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

    Make sure you keep a note of all the times you've phoned, who you've spoken to, etc. to prove that you've been trying to get the money returned as you genuinely believe it to not be yours.

    Edit: what benefits do you claim?


    All i receive atm is careers allowance. my wife is disabled and on full benefit. i have arthritis and a few other issues. we have careers coming to the house to help us and have top notch help from the council. But this is just to much to say ow well its a over payment have it back in out of my benefits. :''(
    Carers allowance isn't means tested and neither is PIP or DLA. Do either of you claim any means tested benefits like ESA, income support, housing benefit or Universal Credit?

  • Spoonie_Turtle
    Spoonie_Turtle Posts: 10,284 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 22 April 2021 at 5:01PM
    That's good, I'm glad you have proof of the calls.

    What exact benefits are you and your wife claiming?  If you can tell us that we can tell you whether the DWP (the benefits office) are going to care about the money ever having been in your account.

    poppy's suggestion of getting your MP involved may be the quickest way to get it solved if you don't get anywhere with the council in the next few days.
  • Hezy
    Hezy Posts: 18 Forumite
    10 Posts
    Yes

    we are on a joint benefit ESA i think it is. 
  • Hezy
    Hezy Posts: 18 Forumite
    10 Posts
    we have disgruntled family member that reports my wife every year to DWP without fail. and they always ask how much we have in our Accounts and stuff so im pretty sure at least something we are on depends on how much money we have  
  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,879 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Then at least part of that would be income related (means tested) Good thing you have proof of the calls. Without any doubts i would contact my local MP using that link above and tell them exactly what's happened, including trying to contact your local council about the money that's gone into your account.

    Also mention that you're claiming means tested benefits and if this isn't sorted soon your benefits could be suspended.

    Once it's finally sorted and the money is returned you need to ask your local council for a letter of proof that money was paid into your bank as an error and that it's now been returned. This will then cover you for your means tested benefits.

    In an earlier comment you mentioned you were expecting something like £200.... as we don't know exactly how much we're talking about have they perhaps added an extra 0 or 2 to make it £200,000? :o
  • Hezy
    Hezy Posts: 18 Forumite
    10 Posts
    Then at least part of that would be income related (means tested) Good thing you have proof of the calls. Without any doubts i would contact my local MP using that link above and tell them exactly what's happened, including trying to contact your local council about the money that's gone into your account.

    Also mention that you're claiming means tested benefits and if this isn't sorted soon your benefits could be suspended.

    Once it's finally sorted and the money is returned you need to ask your local council for a letter of proof that money was paid into your bank as an error and that it's now been returned. This will then cover you for your means tested benefits.

    In an earlier comment you mentioned you were expecting something like £200.... as we don't know exactly how much we're talking about have they perhaps added an extra 0 or 2 to make it £200,000? :o
    thats what i thought originally, i didn't even know how much i was going to get till i asked if that was a possibility, that some one added a few extra 0's but they rest of the numbers don't mesh. its not £200,000 but its still life changing money for me.
  • Hezy
    Hezy Posts: 18 Forumite
    10 Posts
    But Thanks guys

    i think im going to talk to my local MP as Poppy suggested. that does seem like the best idea. and if i still have it after Friday i'll call DWP and let them know, and if they stop my benefits its not like i now don't have a bean to my name till its sorted i'll just have to attach bills accrued for holding the money to the money. So long as a house sale doesn't appear as a bill i think i'll be ok,

    Thanks again. when its resolved i'll let you all know how it was resolved
  • Spoonie_Turtle
    Spoonie_Turtle Posts: 10,284 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper
    Hezy said:
    But Thanks guys

    i think im going to talk to my local MP as Poppy suggested. that does seem like the best idea. and if i still have it after Friday i'll call DWP and let them know, and if they stop my benefits its not like i now don't have a bean to my name till its sorted i'll just have to attach bills accrued for holding the money to the money. So long as a house sale doesn't appear as a bill i think i'll be ok,

    Thanks again. when its resolved i'll let you all know how it was resolved
    Unfortunately if your ESA is all income-related then if it's suspended I don't think they'll be able to put you back on it, unless your MP can make them do it because it's such an exceptional situation.

    Maybe do a benefits calculation to see whether a Universal Credit claim would be okay for you (in case they stop the ESA and refuse to put you back on).  Of course put the details in as if you've managed to return the payment otherwise you won't get a useful result.  Do be aware though that the standard allowance for UC is due to drop approximately £90 per month in September/October.
  • Robbie64
    Robbie64 Posts: 2,167 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I would advise you NOT to contact ESA at the DWP straight away, at least until you have got to the bottom of where the money came from and what it is intended for. Although you have to report changes (such as savings) that affect your benefit, you also need to know that the money is yours and that it hasn't been paid into your account in error. The CAB advise that a change should be reported to ESA within 1 month of it happening. When was the money paid into your bank account? If this week then waiting a short while isn't going to be a problem, especially if you need to establish what the payment is for.

    You could contact your local MP (as suggested) but I would also advise you to contact your local councillor. He or she should be able to look into the matter for you as he or she will (or should) know who to approach at the council to find out what the payment is for and if it is intended for you.
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