Benefits overpayment

An overpayment is when we pay you or your landlord an amount of council tax support or housing benefit you were not entitled to receive.

If we pay you too much benefit, we will usually ask you to pay back the amount we have overpaid. This is called a recoverable overpayment.

What is a recoverable overpayment?

We can recover all overpayments, except if they are caused by an official error which you could not reasonably have known about when you were paid or told about your benefit.

An official error is a mistake we make. It is not an official error if you or a person acting on your behalf contributed to the mistake by not giving us information or by giving false or misleading information.

Examples of why overpayments happen:

• you may have forgotten to tell us that your income has increased
• somebody has moved into or out of your home
• you may have started work or changed jobs 
• you may have moved out of your home and not told us
• if you have any other adults living with you, their circumstances may have changed

How to set up or amend an overpayment recovery arrangement

To set up a new overpayment recovery arrangement, you will need to complete the following online application form.

Set up a new overpayment recovery arrangement

To amend an existing overpayment recovery arrangement, you will need to complete the following online application form.

Amend an existing overpayment recovery arrangement

How will I know if I have an overpayment?

We will send you a letter giving you the full details of the overpayment.

The letter will set out:

• how the overpayment occurred
• the amount of the overpayment
• the period the overpayment covers
• if it is a recoverable overpayment
• how we will recover the overpayment
• what to do if you disagree with the overpayment

What can I do if I disagree with the overpayment?

If you disagree with the overpayment you must write and ask for a detailed explanation, or ask us to look at our decision again. You must do this within one calendar month of the date on the letter.

The areas you can challenge are:

• if we can recover the overpayment or not
• who we can recover it from
• how we have worked it out
• if you had an underlying entitlement

You cannot challenge:

• if we should recover the overpayment or not
• how we choose to recover the overpayment

Appeal an overpayment

If you’re not satisfied with our decision or how we explain our decision, you can appeal. You must appeal in writing and sign it. You must make it clear which decision you are appealing against and your reasons for appealing.

You must do this within one calendar month of the decision you are appealing against. Your appeal will be heard by a tribunal run by the Tribunals Service, who are independent to us.

Recovering the overpayment

Council tax support

If we overpaid your council tax support we will add the amount of the overpayment to your council tax bill. Our council tax office will collect the overpayment by increasing your monthly payments.

Housing benefit

If you are still getting housing benefit, we may reduce your benefit each week to recover the overpayment. If we are not paying your housing benefit, we may send you a bill and you should make arrangements to pay us.

If we pay your landlord your benefit, we may ask the landlord to repay the overpayment in certain circumstances. 

We can ask the Department for Work and Pensions to take money out of your social security benefits to collect the overpayment.