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Home: Community: Money: Help with your rent payments

Housing benefit overpayments

Helen Rodger - August 2011
council.benefits@kirklees.gov.uk


What is an overpayment?

If we give you too much housing benefit, it is called an 'overpayment'.
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Why do overpayments happen?
Overpayments can happen for several reasons. These include:

  • where you or someone in your household receives more income and you don't tell us of the change in your circumstances.
  • when you move out of your home and you continue receiving benefit for it.
  • where we have made an error or delay in calculating your benefit.
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How will I know if I've received an overpayment?

If we pay you too much housing benefit, or your housing benefit is reduced, we will send you a letter to tell you. Please don't ignore an overpayment invoice.

If you think the overpayment is wrong please tell us straight away so we can investigate and, if necessary, prevent your case being passed to the County Court or debt collection agency.
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What if I don't understand how the overpayment has been calculated?

Contact us and we'll explain how we've calculated the overpayment to you.


If you think the overpayment is wrong please tell us straight away so we can investigate and, if necessary, prevent your case being passed to the County Court or debt collection agency.

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Does the council recover all overpayments?

In some circumstances we may decide you could not have reasonably known that an overpayment had occurred. In these cases we will not recover the overpayment.
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How does the council recover overpayments?

  1. If you still receive housing benefit, or claimed at a new address:
    We will recover the overpayment at a set amount each week from your ongoing payments. The amount depends on your financial circumstances. You will therefore have to make up the difference to your landlord.

    If we pay benefit direct to your landlord the above still applies.

  2. If you no longer claim benefit, or have moved from the property:
    We will send you an invoice asking you to repay the amount immediately. There are various ways to pay and these are explained on your invoice. You’ll need the details on your invoice to make payments. If you lose it you can request a copy online.

    • Request a copy housing benefit overpayment invoice
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What if I can't pay in full immediately?

If you can't pay in full you should contact us to make a repayment arrangement. We'll consider your circumstances, the amount you owe, and your offer of payment. You can make a repayment offer online.


Once we've agreed a repayment arrangement with you, you can pay using any of the methods on the back of your invoice.


Please don't ignore an overpayment invoice. If you ignore your invoice we may pass your case to the County Court or debt collecting agency.
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Housing benefit and council tax benefit - contact details

Email

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Write to us

  • Kirklees Council
    Benefits Section
    Civic Centre 1
    Huddersfield
    HD1 2NF

    If your enquiry relates to a suspected housing benefit or council tax benefit fraudster, please mark your letter for the attention of 'Benefit Fraud Investigation Team'

Telephone

  • 01484 414950
    For all housing benefit and council tax benefit enquiries.
    Lines open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
  • 01484 414818
    To pay a benefit overpayment using your debit or credit card. Automated line, open 24 hours a day, year round.
  • 0800 731 1705
    Report a suspected housing benefit or council tax benefit fraudster in confidence.

Fax

  • 01484 221123

Minicom

  • 01484 414858
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