Overpayments
What Is An Overpayment?
An overpayment is an amount of Benefit which has been paid but
to which there is no entitlement under the rules. Overpayments of
Benefit can occur both in Housing & Council Tax
Benefit.
Why Do Overpayments Occur?
Overpayments can occur because of many different factors. A
typical reason is when your income increases for a past period
which then reduces the level of Benefit awarded.
What Happens When An Overpayment Is
Discovered?
When an overpayment is found, the following decisions are
made:
- The period of the overpayment
- The amount of the overpayment
- The cause of the overpayment
- Whether the overpayment is classed as 'recoverable'
- Whether to recover the overpayment
- Decide from whom the overpayment should be recovered
We will then write to you shortly afterwards providing you with
more information. If we were making payments of Housing Benefit to
your landlord when the overpayment occurred, we will also write to
them.
What If The Overpayment Was Not My Fault?
If you actually reported a change to us and we did not act upon
it for a long time, then we will not automatically ask for it to be
repaid. Much will depend on whether you knew whether you were being
overpaid Benefit at the relevant time.
Overpayments Due To Delayed Benefit Awards
Sometimes, you may be claiming Housing & Council Tax Benefit
whilst you are waiting for another Social Security Benefit to be
awarded. If you are then awarded the other Benefit, this may result
in an overpayment of Housing & Council Tax Benefit. We will
usually ask for this money to be repaid.
Overpayments Paid To Landlords
If we were paying Benefit to a landlord and then found out that
there had been an overpayment, we will normally ask the landlord to
pay the money back direct. However, if there is a good reason why
we should ask you for the money instead then we will do this. An
example could be where you had started work and had not told us and
your landlord could not have been expected to know that he was
being overpaid. Each overpayment case is considered on it's own
merits.
How Do I Repay An Overpayment?
Normally, we will take a weekly amount back from your current
Housing Benefit if you are still entitled. Otherwise, we will send
you an invoice asking for you to repay the money. Either way, we
can discuss repayment with you so that we do not ask you to pay too
much each week.
Overpayments of Council Tax Benefit are transferred onto your
Council Tax account and will then be included in your future
instalments.
Further Information
Information
leaflet (available in mutiple languages)
If you have any questions about or would like any more
information, please contact the Helpline on (01304) 872199.
Benefits Section
Dover District Council
White Cliffs Business Park
Dover
Kent CT16 3PJ
E-mail: revenues@dover.gov.uk
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