Pension Credit overpayment

calcotti

landylad said:..there must have been discrepancies in HMRC earnings figures and DWP figures for 19 years. 

Presumably that discrepancy it what they have now picked up.

landylad

landylad said:

Thanks for that info. I will apply for her info from the Link you shared.  

I am giving DWP anything I can find to support my mother but getting  information from them hasn't been very successful up to now. We thought they could stop the extra pension payments (£68 a week) until there was a final decision on the possible overpayment but they haven't paid her anything for 3 weeks. 
 Only noticed this today when attempting to pay her care bill so I am chasing this right now. 

Update, Pension payments are being processed separately now that pension credit has stopped. We didn't realise that all money would stop but the state pension minus pension credit will be paid as soon as possible.  

HillStreetBlues

Good luck with everything, it must be heartbreaking dealing with your mother's condition and have this piled on you.
Make sure you have some kind of outlet where you can release a bit of steam.

landylad

calcotti said:

landylad said:..there must have been discrepancies in HMRC earnings figures and DWP figures for 19 years. 

Presumably that discrepancy it what they have now picked up.

I assume so, I kind of think DWP would check income figures with HMRC before  claims are approved?  All financial stuff is under National insurance number which they both use. 

calcotti

landylad said:.I kind of think DWP would check income figures with HMRC before  claims are approved.

That isn't done. Everything on old separate antiquated computer systems.

Rubyroobs

Slightly off topic but if your mum has dementia is she getting a disability benefit like Attendance Allowance ? if not then you should put a claim in asap. If she is deemed to have severe mental impairment then she can also claim a disregard on her council tax when the Attendance allowance is awarded.

calcotti

Rubyroobs said:

Slightly off topic but if your mum has dementia is she getting a disability benefit like Attendance Allowance ? if not then you should put a claim in asap. If she is deemed to have severe mental impairment then she can also claim a disregard on her council tax when the Attendance allowance is awarded.

OP mentioned the SMI in respect of CT. 

landylad said:

Yes I have informed council tax that pension credit has stopped although she is classed as severely mentally impaired  so I have to wait and see what they come back with. 

landylad

Some really useful comments on here- thank you.  knowing what I know now I think there is a strong case for DWP making more thorough checks on claims. It all very well  finding errors after money is awarded but from where I'm sitting it's horrendous, cruel and unfair. My mum will happily sit eating toffee - today, tomorrow and for the foreseeable future, she doesn't have a clue what's going on nor will she ever know that her grandson can't inherit her little house because it may be sold  to pay off DWP debt. This genuinely is causing me and my wife terrible stress., my wife already suffers with depression so god only know what all this will do long term. 

Thanks everyone. 

slowcars

Robbie64 said:

My advice would be to make an appointment with Citizens Advice or something similar to seek help and advice. Given the amount that could be involved, the length of time that an overpyament may have existed and other complexities, it's a lot to take on by yourself.

And presumably these agencies have all the time in the world to deal with such complex issues. It's no wonder that I have never been able to get an appointment over the past three years + with the various agencies.
It was either give in or push forwards for me - I had to read up on them and take it all in - no mean feat. DIY you could say

landylad

calcotti said:

landylad said:.I kind of think DWP would check income figures with HMRC before  claims are approved.

That isn't done. Everything on old separate antiquated computer systems.

It's crazy though, Im not suggesting  people in receipt of state pension won't understand what they are claiming ( I'm 69) but there must be thousands who for many reasons didn't understand the questions on forms that were filled out on their behalf ? For example, I'm wondering if my mum or the person filling out form thought that local government pension scheme was same as state pension? just because "government" in the name ? My mum wouldn't have deliberately done anything wrong, she was a cleaner in a council care home for around 30 years. 
After turning mums house upside down I found one letter relating to pension credit. Clearly shows a rise in pension credit and what DWP think her private pension would rise to, also says if this amount isn't correct to inform DWP immediately. 

I didn't know about the pension credit before all this happened, I don't know how many letters like this one she's had over the years but I do know that she couldn't read the letters and wouldn't have had a clue what they meant. 

I really would like to know why DWP doesn't check P60's to see income of claimants before approving benefit payments. May take a tiny bit longer to process claims but 20 years down the line they won't need as many officers to investigate these historic errors. It's  causing unbelievable stress for me and my wife which in turn is seriously affecting our health and well-being.