Housing Benefit - overpayments

A Housing Benefit overpayment happens when you have been paid more Housing Benefit than you should have been, usually because your circumstances have changed.

If you have been overpaid, we will send you a letter that tells you how much you have been overpaid and the dates the overpayment covers.

We will ask you to pay back any Housing Benefit you have been overpaid. You may not have to repay it if:

• the overpayment was caused by our mistake
• you could not reasonably have known you were being paid too much

This is where someone receives more Housing Benefit than they are entitled to.

Paying the overpayment

If you still get Housing Benefit

We will reduce your ongoing payments until the amount is repair. This will be the standard rate set each financial year by the Government. If the overpayment is due to fraud, the rate will be higher than the standard rate.

If your Housing Benefit is paid directly to your landlord, the payment will be reduced, and you will need to pay your landlord the difference in your rent.

If you no longer get Housing Benefit

We will send you an invoice for the full amount of the overpayment.

The overpayment can be paid online quoting the 10-digit reference number below the address on your invoice.

What if I don't agree with the overpayment?

If you want to know more about the decision or if you think it is wrong, you can use our online form to:

• ask for an explanation
• ask us to look at the decision again
• appeal in writing giving reasons against the decision

Important: Your request must be made within one calendar month of the date the overpayment letter was sent to you.