Housing Benefit Overpayments
What is a Housing Benefit overpayment
A Housing Benefit overpayment is any amount of Housing Benefit
paid to or in respect of a claimant to which he/she is not or was
not entitled
How does a Housing Benefit overpayment happen
Overpayments are normally created following a review of
entitlement to benefit
What causes a Housing Benefit overpayment
Overpayments can be caused by a failure to report a change of
circumstances, delays in processing a change of circumstances,
incorrect information being supplied, errors made by the Local
Authority or errors made by the Department for Work and
Pensions
What is a recoverable overpayment
Most overpayments are recoverable, regardless of the cause of
the overpayment. If an overpayment was caused by misrepresentation
or failure to disclose information the overpayment must be
recovered from the person who actually misrepresented or failed to
disclose that information.
Overpayments that are caused by ‘official error’ might not be
recovered, unless it was reasonable for the tenant or landlord to
have known they were being overpaid. Each case is looked at
separately.
How will the overpayment be recovered
If you are still getting Housing Benefit we will recover the
overpayment by reducing the amount of benefit which you are
entitled to until the overpayment is recovered. The Government sets
the amount by which we can reduce your benefit. The amount is
higher if your overpayment is classed as fraudulent. A letter will
be sent to you detailing how much we are recovering.
If you are no longer getting housing benefit we will send you an
invoice for you to pay. The invoice will show:
- What it is for and the amount due
- Who owes the money
- How to make payment
- How to contact us
How to pay
For example, cash, cheque, credit card, debit card or standing
order. We aim to make payment as convenient as possible by fitting
in with your personal budgeting arrangements and helping you avoid
travelling solely to pay bills
Where you can pay
You can pay Housing Benefit overpayments at the following:-
At the Council Office
Payment may be made at the following Council
Cash Office, free of charge,by taking the barcoded invoice or
barcoded instalment vouchers to the following Council Office
Civic Offices, Holton Road, Barry - Mon -
Thurs 8:45am - 4:30pm & Friday 8:45am - 4:00pm
At the Post Office
Payment may be made during normal business
hours, free of charge, by taking the barcoded invoice or barcoded
instalment vouchers to all Post Offices.
Local post offices can be found
at http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/finder?pageId=ftn_finder_po_postoffice&catId=20700386
or by opening the attachment below relevant to your area
At PayPoint or Payzone Outlets
Payments may be made, free of charge, by
taking the barcoded invoice or barcoded instalment vouchers to all
PayPoint and Payzone outlets.
Local PayPoint outlets can be found at
http://paypoint.net-city.co.uk/paypoint/
or Payzone outlets can be found at http://search.payzone.co.uk/ or
by opening the attachment below relevant to your area
You can pay Housing Benefit overpayments
using a debit or credit card over the phone by
dialling:-
- 01446 709241/5
- Monday to Thursday – 8:45am to 4:30pm
- Friday – 8:45am to 4:00pm
24-hour Automated Payments
For automated payments please ring 01446 736815.
On-Line Payments
Website:
On-line payments
What if I cannot afford to repay the overpayment in one go
In some cases we can negotiate a realistic level of repayment
over a longer period of time (say by smaller regular payments). We
will encourage you to seek independent advice if you have multiple
debt problems. In setting repayments amounts, we will consider:
- Recommendations from recognised advice agencies
- Any information you give us on the total debts you owe
- Your commitments to your dependants
What happens if I do not repay the overpayment
If we have followed our procedures and you still owe money, we
may pursue the debt through the courts.
A County Court Order obtained against you will allow us:-
- To use an attachment of earnings
- To use bailiffs to collect the overpayment
- To put a charging order on your house if you own/mortgage
it
- To place a third party debt order against any money you
hold
If we do have to apply for a County Court Order, we will add
costs to your overpayment and you will have to pay these costs as
well as the original overpayment
Useful Documents
Useful Links
The Payment & Income Management Section
is located at
Civic Offices,
Holton Road,
Barry
Third Floor
Tel: (01446) 709241/5
Email: Hboverpayments@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk