UC says, Over £800 to pay back. Help

HMcC

Hello I have just been informed by UC that they overpayed me going right the way back to last year. The amount is over £800. I was asked to read a message in my journal, but it wasnt specific so I replied asking for a detailed explanation. I won't hold my breath on that one. My concern is that I reach state retirement age in September, so there won't be that many paydays to go to pay this huge amount back. How much will they take? And is there any redress such as an appeal type procedure? My employer is about to dismiss me on health grounds and pay monies owing which I feel is going to complicate matters to a point where i cannot cope. Any advice is gratefully received thank you.

Adrian_Scope

Hello @HMcC. I'm sorry no one has been able to help with your query so far.

Have UC responded at all to explain what the overpayment is for? If you check back on your statements do any of the amounts look changed? 

They are limited as to how much they can take back from your UC for overpayments. If you are receiving Universal Credit and have no earned income, the maximum amount that can be deducted from your Universal Credit for overpayments is 15% of your standard allowance. 

If you are receiving Universal Credit and have some earned income, the maximum amount that can be deducted from your Universal Credit for overpayments is 25% of your standard allowance. 

HMcC

Hello, and thank you for your reply. UC say its because of incresed ESA payments and that I didn't inform them on time. The thing is I received no communication from ESA whenever there were changes. I was genuinely unaware. Also UC and all the other gov. Dept's pass information to each other all the time and they should have been the ones communicating with each other. Anyhow there is no chance I can check on their claims, my brain is incapable of coping with numbers. So I have to accept they have it all correct. I retire in September and refuse to have this debt hanging over me. My mum has told me today she is going to help me pay it back. I have no idea how much she will be able to afford to give me. The rest, I'll have to scrimp and save. I've rang debt manager and I was aware they could take 15% so I worked that out and offered to pay that per month. However like I said, it will be paid back before my retirement. Thanks again for your help, sorry this reply went on so long.

Adrian_Scope

I'm glad that your mum is able to help you with it a little and you have a plan with debt management. I'm confused why ESA they've said you should have informed them of UC increasing as they usually calculate these deductions automatically with their systems talking to one another. Are you in the support group on ESA and do you receive LCWRA on Universal Credit?

HMcC

 Thanks for getting back to me. It was UC who said ESA had increased my money. But they were not told straight away, hence the overpayment, is how i understand it. I receive LCWRA, which I got in March, and was then put in the support group for ESA. They don't take responsibility for their errors and put it back on the claimant. They say it goes back to october 2022. I wonder then if I should receive a council tax refund if they calculate it on the amount of benefit one gets. I'll bet not!