Dwp collections issue!

[scotsdamo]

Hi Guys

 

this might require someone with an inside knowledge of DWP going back a few years. My wife went back to work in 2005 after a year out and in her signing off interview the advisor said to her she was entitled to a clothing & footwaer grant and this was subsequently given.

 

Now today almost 8 years later a letter has turned up from DWP collections telling her she has to pay back the sum of money and upon calling they advised it was a social fund loan.

 

This was definately not what she was told and they specifically informed her it was a grant and no other correspondence has ever come to us regarding this and yes we are still at the same address so no issues there.

 

In simple terms what can we do? Surely there should be some paperwork surrounding this after all this time?

 

Really appreciate any help that can be provided on this as with most people these days every penny counts and certainly if it was owed we would pay it back but we do not believe this is the case.

 

Thanks

[Invalidation]

Ask them to provide evidence to you for their claim that it was a loan.

Without evidence theyre buggered

[scotsdamo]

Yeah i thought that but i also know what some of these collections advisors can be like they will tell you black is white and the sky is green if it means they are getting the figure on their screen back and they dont care because they hear that many phony stories they assume every is doing the same!!!

 

I just want to know how to challenge them on it and confirm the right way to do it?

[antone]

Start with a Subject Access Request to the DWP Debt Management team asking for all details of the alleged debt. It's also worth noting that if she has indeed heard nothing for nearly 8 years then the debt is possibly statute barred and cannot be collected through the courts. It's still worth getting to the bottom of this, though, because the DWP is able to recover SB debts from any future benefit claim, including state Retirement Pension.