Has anyone else had DWP come for them for an overpayment 5 years ago? Whilst on Maternity?

[elizabethxxx]

Heya!

iv just recently started maternity leave (2 weeks ago, I am 38 weeks).

i am claiming maternity allowance as I started a job with the NHS last year however hadn’t been there long enough to get SMP.

I have received a letter from DWP, asking for £450 back from when I claimed jobseekers in 2020. This was during the beginning lockdown when I wasn’t able to claim furlough (at the time I worked in hospitality, so the pubs etc were closed).

the problem is I can’t really dispute this as it was so long ago I just can’t remember? I am also upset they haven’t taken this money in the last 5 years when Iv been working full time yet are planning on taking it out the meagre £748 I will get a month from maternity leave money! i am really upset as my partner and I do not claim any benefits (except for the maternity allowance). This maternity allowance will go towards our rent etc. however, they want to take £60 a week starting from next week.

long story short we do have some savings which we will need to break into now to pay DWP, however this was strictly for emergencies (and it’s not a enourmous amount) .
however, I am absolutely fuming they are doing this, 2 weeks before my baby is due. Even more so as I cannot even dispute it as it was half a decade ago and I just don’t remember. i feel really let down by this country as of late and even more so when I claimed these benefits from when we were put into a lockdown by our government. I think it makes me even more angry when I have friends etc who claim a lot in benefits and this was a one off claim for reasons out of my control.

is there any route I can go down to dispute this? Or shall I just pay and not stress myself out any further?

tia!
xx

Does the letter explain why they think you weren't entitled to it?

I think that what you're talking about is similar to what we call unemployment compensation in the US. And usually the only time they would be asking for it back would be because you were earning income that was over the threshold at the same time that you were claiming it.

No it doesn’t explain unfortunately. Just that it was an overpayment. It seems crazy that they haven’t come for it in the last 5 years when Iv been earning alot. But would rather take it from my when I have nothing!

If it's similar to the assistance systems that we have here in the US, it's very complicated for them to locate an overpayment and gather the proof and all that.

Is there an appeals process? The letter probably lays that out. I would avail myself of that process if there is one, and at least have them explain to you why there's an overpayment and how it was calculated.

@elizabethxxx

this may help?

The overpayment would need to be repaid if you misrepresented or did not disclose information, even if it wasn't your fault.

You should not be asked to repay an overpayment caused by a DWP official error

"Knowing whether you were overpaid or not can be difficult to work out. If you do not have enough information to be sure that you were overpaid, you can ask for a written statement of the reasons for the overpayment. You must do this within one month of the overpayment decision"