help me please

[faithfaith]

I was on income support, hb, ct and I realise I was overpaid for about one year, I am very ignorant about the policy of the benefits plus I am a depressed person, so now I stoped my benefits and don't know what to do...? Should I tell dap or not? plus I didn't know I can't rent my room too... help me Im not a dishonest person

It may be argued that you have accrued the savings through the overpayment. You could go back to CAB , or find someone else you can trust to support you such as a community support group, to help you notify dwp , ask them to confirm the amount and offer an affordable repayment plan. They may still take it further but it does sound like an oversight and quite recent.

I don't know what 'professional' you spoke to who wouldn't advise you that benefit fraud is potentially very serious. You may have made a mistake but, to be honest, it's pretty common knowledge that you can't sublet a room or have large amounts of savings whilst claiming benefit. Nobody on mumsnet can sort it for you, you need to speak to the DWP

lisz@ yes but can't pay in one time as im living on my savings

sugarhunnyicedte@you don't have to believe me but ive been honest never have any problem in my life in any area,

lisz@ thank you like I said I want to give the money back and ill just need to find someone to help me to write

lisz@ doyen think I can go to prison?

You won't go to prison. Call them first thing Monday and explain. Offer payments. They may want to see proof of your savings/expenses before agreeing a payment plan

Calm down, I'm not calling you a thief . Your posts seem to indicate that you are very worried about them finding out you've been massively overpaid while not being entitled to benefits. If you intended to pay it back, you wouldn't be worried about it being noticed, because you'd already be arranging to pay it back! Obviously. So why haven't you seen someone about this?

If it was accidental and linked to your depresssion be honest and
explain that you will pay everything back in your letter.

Coming on here isn't being proactive about paying it back. You've been advised numerous times to call DWP. It also should have been obvious to you that you cannot claim benefits when you have savings, a lodger and a partner living with you, so this hasn't just suddenly snuck up on you either.

Regardless of having a criminal record or whatever this isn't going to go away. They will find you, whether it be now or five years down the line.

Call DWP and arrange repayment.

I did see someone about it don't you read what ive been saying???

think what ever you want I did not know about this rules exactly if I know why im worried? why im here to get help? why I went to dwp?

I mean cab

I will do this week just need to find someone to help me with the letter

You just need to call them. Forget about a letter, it's just delaying things

hey all, I've sent the letter to them :) pray for me