Universal credit overpayments?

[ucnightmares]

Received a note on my journal tonight telling me I’m due to pay back £300 of an overpayment made in June . I made an application for universal credit in June, then advised to claim carers allowance . I disclosed at the time that I had received extra
Money as I’d left uni two months prior so got a discretionary fund payment in March .

UC are now saying I’ve made a mistake somewhere, in June, and owe them this money ASAP .

I followed everything by the book in June and have it all dated and documented and letters kept etc, and told by two work coaches and a supervisor i was fine .

I can’t pay them that money . I can barely live off wha I get as it is . I’ve got bills to pay and food to buy . I can’t live off nothing .

What do I do? Google says minimum i can now get is one pence per month, with deductions and civil penalties .

Am I allowed to give them the three hundred in a lump sum if a relative can help me? Or is that not permitted and I have to take that huge deduction?

You can pay it off in one go if you want yes. Ask them to explain what the overpayment is from and refer them to previous messages confirming it was right. If it is wrong you will definitely have to pay it back but they can also set up a small amount per month as a payment plan if you are really struggling.

Thank you - I’ve checked and the letter doesn’t match up at all . Says I got payments before 18th June .

As my first contact was on that date, I don’t see how that follows at all . I didn’t get any money until the 24th July .

I'd definitely call and ask them to look at it again and explain the dates don't match up and ask them where they have got the information from, don't pay anything until they've clarified it all. They're bloody useless online. I've been messaging them about an overpayment (I knew when my statement came last month they would overpay me) since 15th Oct, was paid 21st Oct and only received a message back today!

Oh God, I’m sorry you’re in the same position. It’s so frustrating isn’t it . I’ve sent them three messages tonight so hopefully hear tomorrow !

I’ve just read the letter again and it says I received £3k in my account in June and owe only 300 . Bewildered by it all .