Great so I have to find quite a bit more extra money then?? Like I said, I will wait and see what their letter says first, before getting too excited about anything - until I have it in writing, am not going to take anything for granted!!

Honeybee - thank you for your comments - thought I was going to pass out at the start of the interview, felt as if I'd robbed a bank - have NEVER been through anything like that before and never want to again. I was on my own as I couldn't get legal advice beforehand. I was not made aware of how much I owed, just a notice saying that I hadn't declared my husband's earnings to them. Because of the all the disruption to our lives last year and then being diagnosed with stress and depression, I really couldn't remember what I had or hadn't read/received or paid. Am just glad that we kept all our receipts. But would advise anyone to read all their correspondence in future - a bill is NOT the same as a benefit notification. Do NOT assume that because a bill is settled that benefits will cease. If they can put me through all this for the sake of £3.60p, goodness knows what would have happened if it had been any more. I am just thankful that their decision, although not final or formal as yet, will not be court action nor criminal proceedings

not as far as i am aware - the fee i was IUC for was £3.60p

good news - I think!! Turns out that when the overpayment was paid off in October, I didn't inform them of our change of circumstances and a further contribution was paid by them. Explained that we had just presumed because we had settled their bill that it would cancel out any further benefits. Apologised for oversight and she will take it back and recommend that it is just repaid with their 30% interest as it's not worth their while pursuing it through the court. and they will contact me with their decision in the next week or so Oh the amount????? ............................................. £3.60p !!!! thank you to Jadeybags and Feelingsad for making me feel not quite so alone - your support, advice and comments have helped me more than you will ever know xxxxx

sorry - that should say October 2011

we were notified of the overpayment of £504.98p on 3 October 2012 - this was paid outright on 31 October 2012.

Well I don't know whether to be a bit more optimist or not, I have found a council tax benefit letter from last October on which I had written - cancelled by phone, but not sure whether would this be admissable - any ideas?

thank you for al your comments - I really thought that I had declared everyhing - obviously not otherwise I would not have been called for IUC. Is there any advice or information that I should take to the IUC with me? What are my rights and what should I ask?

I have never claimed these type of benefits before - apart from child benefit and DLA for my autistic child. I just can't get my head around this. I have looked at both bills and apart from 8p underpayment difference, I cannot see where I have gone wrong. Surely they wouldn't be that pedantic over 8p?

oh crap - no I didn't. So that must be where I've tripped up. It went to paying off some our mortgage arrears to stop repossession proceedings. Were advised by debt management to pay mortgage first, so where does that leave me?

thank you so much, but am having problems locating all my paperwork - I have the overpayment letter and the receipt of the payment made. Unfortunately, I was suffering from depression at the time - which I finally sought treatment for in December. I am really afraid that I may have missed something important as we were trying to repay morgage & debt arrears from when my husband was unexpectedly laid off work last February. On the advice of CCCS and other debt management advisors, we sought Council Tax Benefit and this was granted in May. My hubby works away and returned to his employers on a voluntary basis in August, but only received expenses and day-to-day living costs, but this was on a month-by-month basis and has been ever since. He received a wage at the end of September and got a loyalty bonus in October - with which we were able to pay off some of our debt. We are still in debt and have come to a repayment agreement with all of our debtors, so to seek and pay for legal advice would be out of the question. Our local CAB is currently under threat and I am really scared that I have missed something or forgotten to inform the council immediately. Needless to say, am completely stressed out, pacing the floor, not sleeping/eating and my medications aren't even touching me. I feel sick at being IUC and that my name (a unique one) will be splashed all over our local press and I will be branded a common criminal. All the hardwork and counselling received over these last few weeks in putting me back on track have just gone out of the window and I'm left feeling a utter wreck

:director:last post as in the trumpet call??

Hi, I really need some help and advice. I have received a letter from my local council inviting me to attend an interview under caution. They are stating that benefits have been overpaid and that I failed to declare my husband's earnings. However, my husband returned to work last September/October and all overpayments were repaid. I am rather concerned to receive this type of request some 4 or 5 months later. What are my rights and how do I deal with formal interview - which is due to take place on 23 February. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks