Universal Credit Over Payment

footes

We were migrated from Income Support to UC and filled out all the relevant forms listing all benefits we were on as well as any other income. When we received our claim award paperwork our total deductions for other benefits/income was listed as a total amount. When checking this through our own endeavours we felt that the total matched our calculations for what benefits we thought were taken into account. Much to our shock we had a letter attached to our on-line journal regarding an overpayment. This over payment was for £2015.65. When we queried it and pointed out that nothing had changed during the migration as far as benefits and we listed it on the relevant forms we received a note in our on-line journal stating "Although the money was not deducted at the correct time it is still an over payment of benefit". Whilst we accept that it is an over payment we now have to find this money through not fault of our own. If it was the other way round we would be looking at fraud charges. Is there anything we can do as we feel being punished for something that is out of our control.

DE_612183

Have they provided a break down of the amount and over what period they have over-paid you?

KxMx

Unfortunately overpayment is always recoverable, even when UC were at fault. 

footes

They have stated the period the over payment occurred it was a payment a benefit amount they should have taken off us in our award for UC. I appreciate we will have to pay it back but this has taken six months for them to see it and left us with a big bill. Surely someone should be held responsible for putting us in this position because obviously they can not read what was submitted in the form. Also we were told that each benefit department has access to each others details.

peteuk

footes said:

They have stated the period the over payment occurred it was a payment a benefit amount they should have taken off us in our award for UC. I appreciate we will have to pay it back but this has taken six months for them to see it and left us with a big bill. Surely someone should be held responsible for putting us in this position because obviously they can not read what was submitted in the form. Also we were told that each benefit department has access to each others details.

You are meant to check and understand the calculations, (if its anything like TC) which is far easier said than done,

You can ask for it to be taken back at a set amount per month, which is an amount you can afford.