Overpayment trouble DWP ignoring the issue for 2 months

goonieandy
goonieandy Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener

We finally managed to sort out the ESA/UC crossover for my relative with a delay in receiving UC at first only half was paid, they left off the LCWRA component. Work coach fixed the issue, but there was an overlap in his payment of ESA. He was told it would be taken back in installments. Arranged with work coach £10. Not only have they taken the ENTIRE amount back, throwing his finances into chaos as it wasn't what was planned for, but they took almost SIX TIMES the instalment agreement, leaving my relative with half his amount of cash to live on for two months now! He is now at the bottom of an overdraft and credit card, with no extra cash just us to survive, whilst the dwp refuse to pay him back!The debt team say they cannot pay it back as ESA never repaid them. The UC team say it's ESA and they can't pay him back and the ESA payment centre has the most ignorant woman ever who appears not to comprehend English very well, refusing to allow it to be referred to a manager. Meantime 13 messages in nearly a month have been left for the work coach who has not bothered answering AT ALL! I am told this qualifies as hardship, and they should waive this debt as it's not his fault, but they are now completely ignoring all work journal messages and calls are useless, they all pass the buck and nobody will pass it to a manager, this is theft now too, as it's eating into his money, they've already taken the ENTIRE overpayment back ! Who can we turn to? It's blatantly obvious only £400 of £809 was paid out to him in April!?

Comments

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,910 Championing

    Now your relative has LCWRA they no longer have a work coach.

    If you've been using the work coach option for Journal messages, these will be going instead to a contact center where replies can take a long time.

    I'd suggest a formal complaint.

    As everyone seems to be pointing the finger at ESA, start there.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/complaints-procedure

  • goonieandy
    goonieandy Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener

    The work coach is the only one who knew what happened is the problem . We don't need to speak to them as a coach, we just need to let them know that they need to explain it to ESA as they are point blank refusing to listen. I even had to instruct this girl as to where to look to view a statement, she seems to be new. But to not pass it to a manager and just leave him is scandalous We aren't even sure if he's going to get his next payment on the 25 with it being bank holiday or what deductions will be made again. Simple questions, no answers.

  • goonieandy
    goonieandy Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener

    Forgot to say, we know about the complaints proceedure, but cannot get far enough to get a senior manager complaint response, which you need to take it further.

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,910 Championing
    edited May 20

    I'd suggest you speak to a trained benefits advisor in the first instance.

    https://advicefinder.turn2us.org.uk/

    Or your MP might be able to help.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 4,618 Championing

    The 25th is on Sunday. So the payment will be made on Friday 23rd this month. If there's no statement generated by tomorrow, I would not expect to see the payment.

    I would advise physically going to the Job Centre yourself and asking to speak directly to his old Work Coach. They are no longer assigned to his case so you can't access them through the journal.