What if I get overpaid?
Housing benefit overpayments occur for a variety of reasons:
- we made a mistake when we worked out your housing benefit.
- there was an error or omission in your housing benefit application.
- there was an official error by the Department for Works & Pensions (DWP).
- you did not tell us about a change in circumstances, for example, a change in income or the people that live with you.
In some circumstances, we may suspend your housing benefit while we get more information from you.
Letters about overpayments
If we think we have overpaid you, we will write to you to tell you that you have been overpaid.
We will explain:
- the reason for the overpayment.
- how much you have been overpaid.
- who is responsible to pay the money back.
- how we intend to recover the overpayment, for example we may recover it from future payments of housing benefit.
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You might not have to pay an overpayment back if:
- we made a mistake and you could not reasonably have known that you were receiving too much housing benefit.
- Your overpayment is included in a debt relief or bankruptcy order.
- We may pause recovery if you are part of a breathing space scheme.
Can I challenge an overpayment decision?
Yes you can ask us to look at it again if you think we have made the wrong decision - find out how to appeal.
How to pay back an overpayment
If you are still in receipt of benefits, we will most likely take the money you owe from your housing benefit. If we do this we will tell you how this affects your ongoing payments.
If you are no longer in receipt of benefits, we will issue you with an invoice - find out how to pay.