See Also
Report a change in circumstances online
or
download a
form
Contact Us
Email:
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
What is an 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).