Pension Credit Overpayment

[Seniorwoman]

Hello, can anyone tell me if there is a maximum amount the DWP can ask you repay per week if your only income is state pension and DLA?

[EDDIE51]

Islay, my problem was a lack of communication between the Working Tax credit and the Pension Credit dept so it did involve the DWP.
I was changing from one to the other and they were not talking to each other, each was waiting for the other to tell them details of my claim so both of them withheld payment until the other gave details.
While this was going on I was left without any money for 7 weeks.
The CAB sorted in all out in less than 1/2 an hour and gave me a voucher for the food bank so at least we had food to eat!

[themas]

Islay

I don't know what your comment about last year refers to. The advisers helpline I mentioned has most certainly existed for many years - it started not long after Tax Credits came in in 2003. I have used it extensively.

I'm not sure what you mean by "working in overpayments". If you were actually in DMB doing that work, then I agree that there is no separate advisers line to them. If you were not in DMB you were presumably in Compliance, & again there is no direct line. However, your previous comments did not make the limitation you now refer to at all clear.

[Seniorwoman]

Still have not got a written answer from PC as to why SDP/PC has been stopped and what is the breakdown of over payments. Did ring them last week but they said to ring Debt Management. Think maybe out of time now. Should I ring again?

[Islay]

As long as your dispute was received 'in time' then you are ok even if it take 20 weeks to respond.
But do ring again so that it can be seen that you want to resolve this.

[Seniorwoman]

Thanks. So the clock starts ticking again from when I last spoke to them?

[Islay]

From when the recieve your official dispute.
So for example when I worked in tax credits if someone disupte it via the post but we did not work that post until 6 months later - it was still in time because we received it in time.

[goodgoalie]

I would keep to putting everything in writing, seniorwoman. I've just resolved a long-running problem with my energy supplier which I think most people would have given up on. I kept at them with emails and letters until, finally, I got a successful outcome. Don't give up, even though you will often feel like doing so.

[Seniorwoman]

Thanks. Have just got through, eventually, to Pension Credit.
Said have still not received written reasons why SDP/Pension Credit stopped. They said they would send an urgent email to change of circumstances dept to contact me and explain verbally. I said I wanted a written explanation and a breakdown of overpayments. They said to wait 5 days and if not heard to ring change of circumstances and explain what I think they overlooked.

I will keep fighting because I think they have put me at a disadvantage by paying me when they knew my change of circumstances way back 2015.

Thanks everybody for your advice, it is certainly appreciated.
Benefits are a minefield!