DWP Debt from 11 years ago!

BigBoss

Yesterday I received a letter from the DWP saying that I owed them some money (< £60). I called them to check this and they stated it was from 2011 when I had some social fund money (or something like that). 

I have asked them to provide a disputed debt form as I don't recall this. 

How common is this and how likely is it that I'll have to pay it?

poppasmurf_bewdley

They will have details of something, whether you can remember it or not.

The thing about owing the DWP money is that they WILL get the money one way or another.  If you don't send them a cheque, they'll just deduct it from whenever or whatever payment they make to you in the future - state pension, Unemployment, Tax Credit, etc, etc.  

Robbie64

Were you in receipt of benefits back then? If the debt was for a Social Fund payment then it's only going to be for either a Budgeting Loan (that would imply having been on benefits for 6+ months when applying and having already paid part of it back as the minimum loan amount would have been £100) or a Crisis Loan which was paid either at the start of a benefit claim to tide someone over for a short while or paid as a consequence of an emergency situation which involved having no money.

tacpot12

There is no time limit on the DWP reclaiming amounts that you owe, but it is worth asking for their evidence that you owe anything at all.