Overpayments

It is always important that you inform us of any changes in your circumstances so that we can prevent an overpayment of Housing Benefit, because you will have to pay it back. The overpayment is always recoverable from the claimant for Housing Benefit. Sometimes we will ask your landlord for it back where the payment was made directly to them and they could have been aware of the overpayment, such as because your tenancy had ended. Otherwise, the claimant for the Housing Benefit claim will be liable for the overpayment.

How do we recover the overpayment

If you are still on Housing Benefit, we will

  • deduct a set weekly sum from your ongoing entitlement.

You will need to make this shortfall up in the rent paid to your landlord

If your Housing Benefit has ended, we will

  • Send you an invoice for repayment followed by a reminder

You can pay this all of the invoice straight away or you can ask us to pay it in instalments.

If you fail to pay the invoice or fail to pay the instalments that you have arranged, we will

  • Ask the DWP to deduct an amount from any of your welfare benefits such as your Universal Credit
  • Ask your employer to deduct money directly from your wages or salary
  • Ask an Enforcement Officer to make an arrangement with you to pay

Ways to pay your Housing Benefit overpayment

Online payments

For online payments, you will need the following information:

  • your invoice number
  • your debit or credit card details
  • the amount you want to pay (this is on your invoice

There are no charges applied for debit or credit cards

PAY NOW

Direct Debit

This is the easiest way to pay and is generally cheaper for you if you pay bank charges.

Please telephone us 01283 595795 or email us at benefits@southderbyshire.gov.uk and we can discuss a reasonable  amount that you can afford to repay each month and we will send you a direct debt mandate form.

 

Bank Transfer and Standing Orders

Payee

South Derbyshire District Council Collection Account

Sort Code

20-63-36 

Account Number

53546667

Reference

(Your invoice number)

You MUST include your invoice number as the reference otherwise we will not be able to match the payment to your account

Telephone

To use our secure touchtone system, telephone 01283 595865 at any time with your invoice number. You will be guided through the process.

By Post

Send a cheque to South Derbyshire District Council. Please make sure you put Housing benefit overpayment and your invoice number on the back of the cheque

If you cannot afford to pay your invoice, please contact us immediately so that we can discuss how we can help you.