Work have overpaid me. What next?

[EachandEveryone]

I’ve been off sick with cancer for two years. NHS job. I managed to go back for a couple of months last year. I’m aiming to go back properly beginning of next year. I haven’t been on the payroll since April.

i was owed seven weeks annual leave which my boss kindly put in to pay roll this month I estimated about £3500. It must’ve been put in wrong as it looks like I’ve been paid for six weeks work as if I’ve been back. Seven grand has gone into my account. I have rang them and it’s under investigation. Obviously I want to return it today but how much should I give them back? The amount before the tax, pension and NI or the amount after?

I get a small amount of UC which obviously I won’t this month but will it be automatic with them or do I need to show proof I’ve sent it back?

thanks in advance it was lovely while it lasted

This happened tome, I'd wait until payroll get in touch with the right amount then they will take that back. I'd write to your manager, payroll and hr to confirm this and await their confirmation.

This is great advice, put it in writing that you told them, and wait for them to determine what they may want back - it may be that they found some other legit reason to give you more (sounds unlikely, but occasionally it does happen!). Dont try to guess an amount and somehow pay it back, you'll throw the system into massive confusion.

I work in the payroll department. We wouldn't expect colleagues to work out what they need to return, we'd sort that all out for them.

It’s the NHS so they will know what to do. I just hope no one gets in trouble for saying I was back at work.

They left a message said it was my return to work and they have paid me for that. Said they will write me a payment plan from next month and post it. I telly want to get rid of it today. I don’t trust myself.

Let payroll, hr and your line manager sort it out, you need to email them, ask what was the overpayment for, how much is it, what are your repayment options and state that you'd prefer the money be paid back immediately rather than a monthly plan as you do not wish to have to set up a standing order and want the matter resolved now.

Were you paid for the months you went back for last year including unsocial hours, tax, pension, contributions. We're you in their employment at that time or bank.

You don’t trust yourself? Just don’t spend it, you’re a grown up!

I hope you’re on the mend ❤️‍🩹

It’s still a long road to go. Had to stop immunotherapy and I’m desparate to restart it. I’m lucky I still have a job. When I saw the amount I thought they’d finished me!!

I hope they don’t insist on a monthly plan.

I was getting abit of UC I wonder if I should message them as it’s over the savings threshold

Just don't touch it and see what they say. As it's their error they may agree to take it back a bit at a time. Or they may just deduct it gradually out of your future wages? Obviously stress you're happy to return the whole lot immediately.

Lots of good advice already from PP. Tell your employer you want to repay what you’ve paid by mistake in one payment otherwise it may affect your future UC payments.

Also @EachandEveryone your employer can’t “finish you” without having told you in writing that is a possibility and invited you to a formal meeting to discuss your ongoing absence from work. Your employer will have a capability policy and procedures which need to be followed in order to terminate your contract.

Let them know you don’t need/want a payment plan and wish to pay back the lot at the earliest possibility. They probably think they’re being nice by offering it as the mistake was theirs but realistically it’ll just mean you are in debt to them until it’s paid off.

At my workplace, we ask for the full amount initially and only offer payment plans if the employee responds and says they do not have the funds available to pay it back. The ideal solution for any employer tends to be payment back at once due to risk of employee going awol at some point before the funds are retrieved so can’t imagine they’ll say no to this.

Write back, dear payroll, further to recent correspondence regarding a payment made to me in error which i understand you are now investigating, could you please forward me exact details of the correct payment due together with a payslip. I require this information as any incorrect overpayment may affect my uc. Could I also request that arrangements are made in order for any overpayment is paid back immediately. ...something like that anyway. Cc hr, line manager, union if you're a member.

Same happened to me I repaid in a lump sum but my tax was messed up til the end of the tax year

I dont think I’m hardly paying any tax as I haven’t been getting a salary just my PIP so I’m hoping it won’t affect that. I don’t know really.

Hope you can get the immunotherapy you need.

In regards to UC, yes okay it’s just over 6k mark, if you are giving it back anyway, then you could still let them know just to have things straight, but it’s not your fault if you have been overpaid, and you have acted upon it, to get something sorted out.