An overpayment is any amount of benefit which has been paid to you but you were not entitled to receive. If we pay you too much benefit, we can usually ask you to pay back what we’ve overpaid. Even if benefit has been paid direct to your landlord you can be asked for repayment.
Overpayments occur for various reasons:
- Failure to report changes of circumstances
- Failure to report changes promptly
- Incorrect information having been provided
Where an overpayment occurs and we deem you liable we will:
- Notify you in writing detailing the amount overpaid and for what period
- Advise you of your rights if you disagree with the decision
Overpayments can be recovered by:
- Recovery from your new benefit entitlement
- Recovery from other state benefits such as Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance
- By raising a sundry debt account