An overpayment is an amount of benefit we have paid to someone when they are not entitled to it.
There are several different reasons that cause an overpayment. Typically, it is a result of a change in your tenants circumstances which has reduced the amount of benefit they are entitled to, but has already been paid.
If benefit is paid to you on behalf of your tenant, and you have been paid too much, we will write to you. We will tell you have much you have been overpaid, the dates you were overpaid and how/from whom this will be recovered.
If we find we have paid too much benefit, we can ask that this is paid back. This will be done by either:
- Taking money off your tenant’s ongoing benefit payments
- Reducing any lump sum benefit we owe your tenant
- Reducing the amount we pay you, if you have multiple tenants who receive benefit
- If they are not receiving benefit anymore, we will send a bill.
However if we are satisfied you must have known we were paying too much benefit, we can ask you to pay it back. In this instance we may look to recover overpaid benefit directly from you.
Each case is assessed on its own merit. If you disagree with any aspect of your overpayment or how it is being recovered you must contact us.
