Overpayment & DWP Contact Impossible!

IanHaines

I had a letter from my Local Council. I'm about to become 66 and my ESA will be no longer paid.  The Council have asked me to fill in a form, showing my bank statement details for a 2 months period.  I'm housebound and can't post anything back to them - and my printer has, for the first time EVER (!), decided it doesn't want to print anything, for me.

Having finally learned about the £6,000 limit in savings, before needing to declare it as a change in circumstances (I thought it was £10,000), I know I'm going to have to pay back the overpayment of...

1. ESA.
2. Housing Benefit.
3. Council Tax.

I'm happy to do that repayment - I don't want to own money that should not be mine.

So, given that I have the screenshots for my banking's last four months, on my hard drive, ready to send to them, I'm stunned that I can find absolutely NOWHERE to send it.  I can't get replies to E Mails, and I can't get a human being on the phone.

What am I supposed to do?  I've never found it so hard to give money to people, before this, and I just want to start the repayments, so that I can put this out of my head.

IanHaines

I live in the North West of England, on the Wirral Peninsula.  I have no letters from the Housing Benefit or Council Tax departments.  What is their front desk number?  Does anybody know?

IanHaines

Okay, yes.  I'll just keep going.  I've just reminded my local MP's office about my first E Mail to them, to see what that brings up.  Thanks, for the reply/ies.

L_Volunteer

The true power in keep going @IanHaines. How are you feeling about everything at the moment?

Also,m you are welcome for our replies. Please don't hesitate to let us know if we can do anything else to support you 

IanHaines

I've had an E Mail reply from a local MP's team member, asking for a few more details (which I've sent to them) and, all I can do, now, is wait to hear from them, about any progress.  I just want to pay back what I owe.  I had been hopelessly badly advised about how much money I can have in a bank, before it goes above that amount and becomes a notifiable event.  I should have spoken to the experts about that amount.  Thanks, for replying.  I'm feeling very apprehensive and I just want to start the payback!

IanHaines

I've had it confirmed for me, that I will owe...

1. NOTHING to the Council Tax department, and...
2. NOTHING to the Housing Benefit department, at all.  (Also, because I'm now 66 years old, my rent payment returns to 100% , so there is no more Bedroom Tax, so I'll be £113.00 better off per month, on that, alone.) 

I am unable to update what is likely to happen, yet, with the possible overpayment of Employment & Support Allowance, although an MP and one of her colleagues are helping me get through to the DWP, about that.  Time will tell.

Hannah_Alumni

@IanHaines I was so happy for you reading the first part and I'm keeping everything crossed after reading the second 🤞

Hopefully it won't be too long before you hear back, I'm so happy your MP and her colleagues are being such a support for you