OMG how do i pay this overpayment back from income support

rigsby1967

Today i just got a letter from DWP that i have been paid to much income support in error, of £410.20.
They stated "This is because of your child benifit ending or reducing".

I thought they were in liason with CBA and would have known it had stopped so therefor done whatever they needed to accordingly. I could see the money was still going into my account but i just thought (In my stupidity)thats how it worked....that they paid the extra for a few weeks after the child reached a certain age .

There is a paragraph in the letter they have sent saying "The total due includes an amount that has been paid in error.This is not recoverable under Social Security Law, but we are asking for this back because it should not have been paid, and the next paragraph says " All other amounts that have been overpaid must be paid back under Social Security Law, well thats very contradictory.

How on earth am i going to pay it back

grey_lady

It's quite cunningly worded isnt it, it sounds like your not liable to pay the full amount back only part of it, but helpfully doesnt tell you how much -
(fingers crossed its only a really tiny amount)
i would phone them and ask them to write to you again telling you the exact sum that you are legally obilged to pay back - or else take the letter to the CAB and ask them to look into it.

hth

lil_me

If you knew the CB had stopped did you not just put to one side the overpayment because you knew it was wrong? Knowing of course that you didn't qualify once the CB had stopped.

As far as paying it back, maybe contact welfare rights or CAB

rigsby1967

Thanks for the replies.
I had no idea it was an overpayment, i just saw it was going into my account and assumed that must be right. Some months ago a freind of mine had told me that IS is paid for a child untill the new school year after they leave school.....who am i to know any different? .

I think i will do what grey lady said and write to them and ask how much i must pay back by law and see what there come back is.

Meant to say will try CAB as well.

Fran

You should contact Child Benefit too because it usually runs on after a child has left education but in some circumstances you have to request it is still paid. Check that you received the right amount.

Income Support for children is now paid as Child Tax Credits - I thought everyone had gone over to CTC's? Were you still receiving an amount for your child as IS?

IS or CTC rely on Child Benefit being paid and Child Ben. is a weekly benefit so IS for kid/CTC would stop on the same day as Child Ben. ceases to be paid.

I would ring them (DWP) about this non-recoverable amount and ask them to put it in writing too.

sarahluv

was this an overpayment of CB or the child part of IS?

CB would be chased by HMRC.

rigsby1967

I'm not yet on CTC.
The overpayments were the child part of IS.
My son has a disability so i got extra for his disability and the overpayments were over a period of 5 weeks.

Fran

rigsby1967 wrote: »

I'm not yet on CTC.
The overpayments were the child part of IS.
My son has a disability so i got extra for his disability and the overpayments were over a period of 5 weeks.

The disability element is probably the part they are referring to as 'not recoverable'. Are you still entitled to Income Support? Ask CAB about this as maybe you should be putting a claim in for CTC at this point too.

rigsby1967

Hi Fran
Thanks for the reply
I no longer get IS for my son but i do for myself and daughter. My son left home last month so i want to start working now.
How do i go about getting CTC instead?

Fran

rigsby1967 wrote: »

Hi Fran
Thanks for the reply
I no longer get IS for my son but i do for myself and daughter. My son left home last month so i want to start working now.
How do i go about getting CTC instead?

If you are getting IS for your daughter under the old system then you would need to apply when they put you over to the new system ie claiming CTC instead of child element of IS.

real1314

The bit about some of it being paid in error but not being recoverable under soc security law is telling you that they still want that bit back, but it will be under common law instead.
They contend that it is reasonable for you to know that it wasn't due to you.
Saying that "a friend told me it was ok" will not work.