DWP mortgage interest overpayment

[pot72]

Hi, I just found this forum and have a question to ask regarding my brother, I don't know all the details but basically this is what has happened.

 

My brother is claiming incapacity benefit. He cannot work because of crushed discs from the 4th to the 8th vertebrae.

 

He is also claiming DLA and Income Support. I don't know the amounts. As far as I know he has been awarded middle rate DLA. All his DLA goes towards a Mobility car.

 

He is aged 50 and has a wife aged 45 who is not working due to epilepsy. The DVLA suspended her driving licence because of this illness. He has a son aged 21 who is a full time university student with no income.

 

On Tuesday a letter arrived telling him that he had been overpaid by £29 a month on his mortgage interest payment, and that he had to pay DWP the same amount each month, starting in two days time. Not a lot of notice.

 

He has always made DWP aware of any changes in his condition and cannot see how he has been overpaid.

 

I do not see how he is liable for a mistake in the DWP calculations, I always thought that any overpayments were not recoverable unless false information was provided when the claim was first made.

 

If they are allowed to claim this money back then would his Income Support payment be increased by the same amount?

 

His income for three adults is £120 per week.

[flumps1976]

The government changed the Standard Interest Rates payable via benefits last year, some cases were paid in error at the previous rate which was approx 6% wheb it should have been revised the current rate which is approx 3%.

A lot of cases were not reasessed quickly enough resulting in overpayments which will be recovered by the DWP. The mortgage lenders refused to refund the money so it os recovered from the customer instead.

[Nystagmite]

Has he asked for a written explanation as to how this was calculated?

[MIKEY DABODEE]

Also may be due to sons student loan, your friend needs a written breakdown of the overpayment

[pot72]

My brother has has had a meeeting with an advisor who is looking at his case.