Tax credits overpayment advice

jodie1982_2

I have been overpaid £1500 apparently. There is no way this is my fault as EVERY time I had a change of circumstances, I would inform them the very day it happened!

I have already paid back over £700 by having my tax credits reduced. I was just going to forget about it, but then decided that it isn't fair as I did everything I should have done so am appealing.

This appeal has been going on now for 6 weeks and still no decision has been made. Does anyone know how long this usually takes?

Also, if it ends up with me not having to pay it back (which is highly unlikely) will they pay me back what I have already paid? Has anyone else been in this situation?

Thanks in advance.

jai_2

Most overpayments are due to an increased income. Unfortunately this is one change of circumstance that you are not encouraged to update them to. You cannot appeal against an overpayment of tax credits. But what you can do is request they use their descretion not to recover the money. They will consider this if you are finding it difficult to meet your priority expenses such as rent, mortgage, council tax, gas and electric. If this is the case for you then you would advised to write to them and explain your financial situation.If you would like to know why you were overpaid ask them for full written reasons including their calculations and an explanation of why you were overpaid. This usually takes them months to answer (if they do at all) so it may be a good idea if you ask them also to refrain from recovery until you have recieved the info

jodie1982_2

I can appeal because I have already. I am still waiting for a decision.

[Deleted User]

You CAN dispute overpayments.

You may have notified them of every change of circumstance but it may be down to a change in income which is usually the case.

My advice is to never lower your income estimate for the year unless you REALLY need to. If you earn as little as £1 over your lowered estimate you will have been overpaid.

Call up and ask for a written explanation of how the overpayment happened if you are not happy with the explanation given. I am assuming you have already had the reasons of how the overpayment happened??

[Deleted User]

And you are advised to make TCO aware of any change of circumstance.
As it is a means-tested benefit, one of the main changes you would always need to notify them of is an increase in income.

jai_2

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/b_overpayment_of_tax_credits.pdf

poppett

I too have been told I have been overpaid. I phoned them to find out how this has happened as like the OP I phoned them with EVERY change in circumstances when they happened. They said they would send me a form to request a breakdown and explaination. But the only thing I have received is a letter saying they have run out of these forms and will send one out as soon as possible. A sign that a lot of people are disputing the overpayments?????

[Deleted User]

You dont need a form to request a written breakdown. You only need to call to ask for it. The written explanation can take 8-10 weeks.

jodie1982_2

Another thing that is annoying is that every time you phone them, you're told somthing different. They need more staff training if you ask me!!!

flipcat

Join the queue of a long line of unhappy people paying back into an unfair system,im currently paying back £100 every month till next May,its all a joke.I disputed,you hardly ever win,here are sucess stories but unfortunately not many.Iv always informed them everytime and am very honest but i found out it doesnt always pay to be honest.There are tons of people out there cheating the system and getting away with it,it makes me sick.

Elle00

I had a £550 overpayment last year despite updating them on time every time. To be honest, it's because they estimate everything and there's no other way to work the system. I know it seems unfair but when you step back and look at this from a distance you'll see that you've just been left with the money you're entitled to at the end of the day regardless of whether or not you got an interest free loan. I know it stressful and annoying and everything else but after two years being a single parent I just can't be bothered to get upset over this stuff any more. They can't take money from me that I don't have so tough, they can have my £550 back at £2.50 a week for the next four years! If you find your weekly payments are too much to cope with, just ring them up and tell them they're causing you unnecessary hardship and that you need the amount reduced. You still pay back the total amount yes but at least you do it in a way that doesn't intefere with your day-to-day living expenses.