Has HB been overpaid in error?

[ryouga]

Basically have been getting HB a few months, got some issues with it as was living alone for a while then a housemate moved in and even though I gave them information it took a month for them to close claim to reassess which took another few weeks so I was overpaid about £90 in the period which they took off my following payment which was about 3 and a half weeks worth.

I then got a load of letters about 2 and a half weeks ago advising me my claim was closed due to new information but by time I rang they apoligised and said it was a computer glitch and not to worry as my claim was valid.

I havent been paid any money from them in about a month so due a big amount of backdating, anyway got another letter at weekend saying I have been OVERPAID £104 and they are taking off about £19.50 a week for next few weeks.

Think is they HAVENT overpaid me, the issue is down to the computer glitching AGAIN, basically when they reassessed me when the claim was closed they put me at the single person with own facilities rate not the shared rate so thought they underpaid me and sent me a letter saying I was owed £104 though they realised their error and never paid me this.

So if this is getting confusing I think they realised the £104 payment they thought I was owed was paid to me though it wasnt so are attempting to get it back though how can they when it was never paid to me!

[jeffrey]

I'm not sure that I fully understand your post.

1. Is the problem about:
a. assessment of benefit; or
b. payment of benefit?

2. AND is the blame on:
a. your local authority; or
b. a Central Government Department?

[ryouga]

I'm not sure that I fully understand your post.

1. Is the problem about:
a. assessment of benefit; or
b. payment of benefit?

2. AND is the blame on:
a. your local authority; or
b. a Central Government Department?

Payment of benefits really.

Well the current problem is that after they reassessed claim after a computer error it said I was entitled to more than I was actually allowed so they looked at it again by hand but somewhere along the way the computer has put me as underpaid then the human assessor realised I wasnt so manually changed it meaning the computers thought I was overpaid thereby wanting to take the "overpayment" off

So in simple terms I am due HB but the computers think I was overpaid when I wasnt and so are taking money off me.

And all the council staff on phone mentioned was I had to write a letter to get them to reasess my claim as she didnt seem to understand what I meant and thought I was challenging the amount I was awarded when I am not, its the fact the pc has flagged me as overpaid when I havent been.

[thesaint]

Go into the Housing benefit office and get them to look at it in your presence.

[tom999]

And all the council staff on phone mentioned was I had to write a letter to get them to reasess my claim as she didnt seem to understand what I meant and thought I was challenging the amount I was awarded when I am not, its the fact the pc has flagged me as overpaid when I havent been.I would suggest writing to the Council's HB dept, requesting an explanation (or enquiry) as to what exactly is happening with your HB claim; keep a copy of the letter and proof of postage. If you have statements proving that you haven't been overpaid, this would also help your case.