Benefit Overpayments

• Why have I been overpaid Benefit?
• If I have been overpaid Benefit can you insist I pay the overpayment back?
• How do I pay back the Benefit overpayment?

 

Why Have I Been Overpaid Benefit?

An overpayment is when you have been paid benefit which you were not entitled to.  This could be because you did not inform us of a change in your circumstances such as:

 

If I Have Been Overpaid Benefit Can You Insist I Pay The Overpayment Back?

We have to decide if the overpayment is to be recovered first.

It will be recoverable if:

• You did not tell us of a change in your circumstances, such as an increase in your income.
• You did not tell us about a change but continued to receive benefit that you are not entitled to

It will not be recoverable if:

• We made a mistake which you could not reasonably have been expected to know about or to have contributed to

 

How Do I Pay Back The Benefit Overpayment?

There are a number of ways you can pay the overpayment back to us:

• If you still get benefit after receiving your overpayment invoice we can make automatic deductions from your benefit to pay back the overpayment.
• If you want to repay by deductions please fill in the Overpayment Means Enquiry form or you can ask for one to be sent to you.
• You can pay over the phone, following these instruction:

Telephone 01244 345226

Press the * key

Select option 6

Enter the 8 digit Housing Benefit overpayment account number, which starts with a 5 (eg account number 51234567) and then follow the recorded instructions

Should you need further information about anything on this page please contact us at:

Fraud & Corporate Debt
Customer Services
Chester City Council
The Forum
Chester
CH1 2HS
Telephone: 01244 402465
Email: benefits@chester.gov.uk.