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Help please

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catherz17
catherz17 Community member Posts: 4 Listener
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Hi I'm wondering if anyone can help me. I've been on esa for about 2 years now and when I first got accepted I was single. After a while i met someone and we moved in together so I did the right thing and called them to notify them of change of address ands circumstances. A few months later i had to have a face to face assessment which my partner attended with me.  I have since moved again with the same partner so I called them again to let them know change of address again. This time when I mentioned my partner they claimed I had never notified them of this. Which I most certainly did! They explained they have been overpaying me because of this and that I will have to pay it back! I'm barely coping as it is. Today a very very rude woman called me from esa and said a form was going to be sent to me and that I will most definitely have to pay the overpayment back. I asked why when I know i had notified them. She shouted at me saying that unless i have proof I will have to pay. She also hung up the phone on me leaving me shaking crying and scared if I'm honest. Can someone please help me. I've tried to do the right thing and feel I'm being punished for it.  I completely understand if they need to cut my payments down but not the paying it back for their mistake! 
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  • CockneyRebel
    CockneyRebel Community member Posts: 5,209 Disability Gamechanger
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    Hi catherz

    You should get face to face trained advice from CAB or similar as soon as possible

    CR
    Be all you can be, make  every day count. Namaste
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  • debsidoo
    debsidoo Community member Posts: 325 Pioneering
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    Do you still have a copy of any paperwork mentioning your partner either the change of address notification or anything from your last assessment which your partner attended.
    if so,send a photocopy to them with a letter explaining by recorded delivery.
    Do Not Send Original by post you may not see it again.
    you could also try and dig out any Letters from whoever conducted the assessment it may be mentioned in their report.
    Hope you manage to get it sorted.Remember to keep copies of all correspondence 
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  • catherz17
    catherz17 Community member Posts: 4 Listener
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    I unfortunately didn't keep a copy and the first time I notified them was just over the phone. I'm really scared.
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