Help with challenging a housing benefit overpayment.

[DeathMetalMum]

Family member just reached retirement. Recently received a letter stating overpayment, over £400 built up over more than four years at around £2 a week. As far as I'm aware any changes in income, carers allowance or PIP etc have been notified to the council as soon as they happened. I have helped to write an email today stating the overpayment was not the fault of my family member and they always gave the most up to date information on income as soon as possible. I believe another family member has been in contact with Citizens Advice. I feel it's extremely unfair this type of thing happens due to errors on the part of the benefits team. Is there anything else that I can do to help?

Seems pretty poor show to chase such a paltry sum over so many years.

Is there any rule against going back so long?

What evidence is there? What’s supposed to be overpaid. When was change in circumstances notification made by your relative and do you have proof that it was? If you don’t because it was so long ago now can the time be used as a reason for not being able to produce evidence.

Hi OP, ask for clarification about how the overpayment occurred, ie is it your relative's fault or the council's. I worked in the benefit service years ago and it was standard to request repayment of any overpaid benefits that were due to DWP errors BUT we weren't able to enforce repayment if the recipient had accepted the money in good faith. It might have changed but it's worth checking out 👍🏼