or

download a form

Benefits@thanet.gov.uk

Phone:

from 9am to 5.30pm.  If your family name begins:

A-Don call (01843) 577554

Doo-Ker call

(01843) 577555

Kes-Ric call

(01843) 577556

Rid-Z call (01843) 577551

Fax: 01843 577532

or Visit our offices

Benefit Overpayment

If you have been paid more Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit than you were entitled to – that is an overpayment. For example, if you have been paid £150, but were only entitled to £100, then you have had an overpayment of £50.

How will I know that I have been overpaid?

If we pay you too much benefit, we will send you a letter explaining:

• how much has been overpaid
• how it was worked out
• the period to which it relates
• how it will be claimed back, and
• why the overpayment is being claimed back.

Why do overpayments happen?

Most overpayments happen because of a change in your circumstances. For example a change in your income, or the size of your family. Normally, we will ask you to pay back the overpayment.

The risk of an overpayment happening can be reduced, if you tell us straight away of any changes in your circumstances.

What if I agree with the overpayment but can’t afford to repay it all at once?

If you can’t afford to pay back the money in one go, we may accept weekly payments.

If you no longer get Housing Benefit, we will send you a bill. You can pay this by instalments, but you must arrange it with us first, in writing.

If you still get Housing Benefit, we may collect the overpayment by reducing the amount of the cheque sent to you or your landlord. If extra rent becomes payable, you will have to pay this.

What if there is an overpayment but it was paid direct to someone else, for example my landlord?

Normally, we will collect an overpayment from the person who received it.

Sometimes, we may ask you for the money, even if you did not receive it. This may happen if you did not give us information, or tell us of a change in circumstances, that affected your benefit.

Unhappy with the final decision?

If you would like more information about how your benefit is worked out, you must write to the Benefits Service asking for full details.

If you are unhappy with how we have worked out your benefit, you have the right to appeal.  You should do this in writing, within one month of receiving notification of your benefit entitlement (see Reviews and Appeals).