Universal Credit whilst at Uni

[Guest]

I recently received a letter from DWP asking for me to clarify my status as a full time student, which I did. I have now been made aware that I was not eligible for Universal Credit whilst studying, I was never made aware of this and assumed I was seeing as I have been in receipt of the benefit for over two years that the DWP sanctioned the payments. At the point I submitted a claim I made the member of staff aware I was due to attend university and consequently I have not fraudulently claimed benefits. What seems to have happened is that the DWP has not reviewed my claim in the past two and a half years and have upon review decided I am ineligible. They plan to pursue overpaid benefit via the Magistrates Court and I assume to charge me with fraudulent receipt of benefit. What can be my legal recourse? I struggle to believe that I can be liable for being totally ignorant to a mistake made by the DWP?