Housing benefits overpayment

THE case of a huge housing benefit overpayment of £14,216 stretches back nine years, it has been revealed. The amount was originally for nearly £21,000, but more than £6000 was clawed back from the unknown recipient after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) got involved. The debt was pursued again by the council in recent years, but was finally written off this year after “all recovery options had been exhausted”. A council report, which will be presented to councillors at next week’s enabling and customer services committee, details the case. It states: “Original housing benefit overpayment of £20,817.05 identified and created August 25, 2016. “Invoice was issued August 30, 2016, followed by reminders, however no response received from claimant. “Referred to DWP for recovery from DWP benefits on January 13, 2017, and £4212.56 recovered before being returned from DWP May 6, 2021. “Following the return of the debt, a further £2388.80 was recovered before once again referring to DWP on December 7, 2023. No recovery then made from any DWP benefits in payment at that time. “No deductions available from ongoing benefits and no contact address, as claimant appears to have moved outwith the area. “All recovery options had been exhausted and therefore it was deemed there was no prospect of recovery.”