Overpayment of Housing Payment

[LastGarrison]

Hi

Not sure whether this or the benefit forum was the best place to start this thread but here goes.

I recently returned from travelling and began to claim JSA and Housing Benefit for 5 months, I then subsequently secured a job so rang to cancel both of the above.

2 weeks after doing this I received another HB payment which I let go thinking it maybe any excess owed but then 2 weeks after this they made another payment so I rang them to tell them again that I had signed off and could they stop sending me money.

The woman I spoke to said "Oh yes we have details that you signed off in July".

I then received a couple of letters from them chasing their over payment and then one from a debt collection agency.

I have now just received a phone call from Newlyn Plc obviously chasing their money.

How do I stand in this position?

Just to throw another twist in, unfortunately the job I had was just on a temporary contract and has now finished so I have had to sign back on although because I was away travelling last year I have not paid sufficient NI contributions so this stops on 24 November (which I am appealing) and as I am skint I have had to move back in with my Dad so I cannot claim any Housing Benefit (which would have been a bit cheeky anyway).

Any advice in this position would be gratefully received.

Many thanks

LG

[teaboy2]

Re: Overpayment of Housing Payment

Unfortunately as you will have no choice but to repay the over payments

However i would right to the DWP informing them you will only deal with them directly and as it is their mistake in the first place, its only reasonable and fair that they accept your offer of repayment schedule.

Also inform them of yur current living and employment status and give them a monthly figure of repayment that is affordable to you.

[leclerc]

Re: Overpayment of Housing Payment

I had a similar problem albeit not as far as going to bailiffs where I had local housing allowance and was working on a temporary contract. You should write as Teaboy2 has stated or ring them and ask them for a payment slip so you repay the money owed. They pay it in advance and I had to get them to stop the Local Housing Allowance(rather than HB) so that they would not increase the overpayment. In a temp job you might have been eligible for HB albeit at a reduced rate.
Do not deal with the bailiff whatsoever though.

[LastGarrison]

Re: Overpayment of Housing Payment

Ok, thank you very much for the advice I will write to the DWP and see if we can come to some sort of acceptable re-payment plan.

[SpringerSpaniel]

Re: Overpayment of Housing Payment

Housing Benefit is usually paid by your local authority not the DWP, so check who you should be dealing with as the OC. If you have problems with them putting pressure on you when it was their mistake in the first place, or if you think they are asking you to pay the wrong amount, your MP should be able to help.

[labman]

Re: Overpayment of Housing Payment

This may help depending on the OC:

Child Poverty Action Group: Overpayment Recovery Test Case

[WendyB]

Re: Overpayment of Housing Payment

You should contact the HB people and arrange a repayment plan. By your own admission, you knew you should not have been receiving it, so they will probably ask why you did not repay it sooner, and why you spent it when you knew you weren't entitled to it. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but that's what they'll say.

On a more positive note, as you are likely to be in receipt of benfits again soon, there is a possibility they may be able to deduct the overpayment from any fture benefits, once your new benefits entitlements are sorted out.

[LastGarrison]

Re: Overpayment of Housing Payment

Thanks for all the advice people and yes Wendy it is my own fault for spending it when I knew it wasn't really for me.

Just makes you think how many people keep receiving payments when they shouldn't and don't tell them and don't bother paying them back. No wonder the public sector is in such a mess.

Went to see the housing benefit yesterday and there is nothing they can do. Spoke to the debt agency today and have agreed a repayment of just over £20 a fortnight out of my JSA which means I have roughly 6 months to pay them. Can't complain really.

Once I get a job I am just going to pay them off in one go.

Thanks for the advice everyone, much appreciated.

[labman]

Re: Overpayment of Housing Payment

I'm pleased its worked out for you. It could have been far worse! Well done!:beagle::beagle::beagle::beagle: