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Recovery of overpayments

 
Recovery of Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit overpayments is undertaken in various ways.

Council Tax Benefit

Council Tax Benefit overpayments are usually recovered directly from your Council Tax account, and an amended Council Tax bill is sent to you. To discuss payment issues regarding your council tax please contact the Council Tax Department.

Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit overpayments are generally recovered from the person the payments were made to. If the payments were made to your landlord, we may recover the overpayment from the landlord. In all cases the tenant is always notified of the overpayment and the ways it is being recovered.

If you are still receiving Housing Benefit, we will recover any overpayment by deducting the amount from your benefit entitlement. If you are not on benefit, we will send you an invoice.

If you are unable to pay the invoice in full, you can arrange to pay by instalments on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis. You can choose to pay by cash payments (using a payment book), direct debit, standing order or, if you work for the council, deductions from your salary.

Contact the Benefit Recovery Team (details on right) to arrange to pay by instalments or, to discuss the situation if you are having difficulties with your repayments.

Please  quote your name, address and Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit reference number whenever you get in touch with us.

Remember, failure to repay an overpayment could result in legal action being taken against you.

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit cannot be recovered against each other.

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