Appendix 2 Housing Benefits Write Offs
|
Type of Debt (reference no.) |
Name and address |
Amount £ |
Period |
Comments |
|
Housing Benefits 444679 |
CB |
£5,807.76 |
03.04.2017 to 15.04.2019 |
|
|
Summary |
These overpayment invoices were raised on 15th and 17th April 2019.
This claim was assessed as a standard claim based on her partner's earnings and tax credits.
Due to an investigation by the DWP her claim was reassessed to include her earnings from child minding. The Council received the notification from the DWP on 10th April 2019 concerning the undeclared earnings.
The overpayment was being recovered from her future benefit entitlement until we were notified by the Council Tax department that they had vacated the property with no forwarding address provided.
Since then, we have been unable to trace the claimant and there is no record of their residence on their DWP records; it is possible that they may have returned to Portugal.
As we cannot locate the claimant and the debt is over six years old it is being recommended for write off.
|
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|
Total Sundry Debt |
£5,807.76 |
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|
Type of Debt (reference no.) |
Name and address |
Amount £ |
Period |
Comments |
|
Housing Benefits 460572 |
SN
|
£6,369.16 |
15.02.2021 to 26.07.2021 |
|
|
Summary |
This invoice was raised on 13th September 2022.
Claimant was on universal credit and disabled living allowance due health conditions and medical history.
Due to a backdated adjustment by the DWP they decided to cancel his universal credit for a limited period as they believed he was working. The claimant states he was not working and appealed. We have not been notified of any outcome of the appeal at present.
Information from Rentstart confirmed that this claimant was vulnerable and evidence from bank statements shows that he borrows money throughout the month from friends and uses his benefits to make repayments. In addition, recovery is already being made to clear a tax credit overpayment with the DWP.
Due the financial situation with no likelihood of recovering the debt and his vulnerability due to his medical ill health this debt is being recommended for write off. |
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|
Total Sundry Debt |
£6,369.16 |
|||
|
Type of Debt (reference no.) |
Name and address |
Amount £ |
Period |
Comments |
|
Housing Benefits 417619
|
SP
|
£7,417.47 |
28.11.2011 to 19.11.2012 |
|
|
Summary |
This invoice was raised on 16th January 2013.
This claim was assessed based on the claimant’s income support entitlement.
We were notified by the DWP of a limited cancellation of his income support entitlement until he was transferred onto Employment Support Allowance.
The overpayment was being recovered from his future benefit entitlement until we were informed in January 2024 that his Employment Support Allowance ceased. He subsequently vacated the property in May 2014. This case was not written off earlier due to periodically checking the claimant's circumstances to see if recovery could be reinstated.
Since 2014, we have pursued the debt through various means including bailiffs; attachment to earnings when he was working and possible attachment to benefits.
However as there has been no contact with the claimant and the debt is over six years old it is now being recommended for write off.
|
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|
Total Sundry Debt |
£7,417.47 |
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|
Type of Debt (reference no.) |
Name and address |
Amount £ |
Period |
Comments |
|
Housing Benefits 407043
|
EC
|
£6431.49 |
18.02.2013 to 23.09.2013 |
|
|
Summary |
These invoices were raised on 11th November 2013 and 11th April 2014.
This claimant was assessed on Employment Support Allowance.
This claim was due for review in 2013. However, we did not receive any response, so the claim was initially cancelled creating the first invoice in November 2013.
After further investigation by our fraud department, it was proven that the claimant had vacated and moved to the USA from an earlier date and so subsequently a further overpayment was created in April 2014.
We have continued to check to see if she has returned to the UK; but we have not been able to confirm this. Therefore, due to the age of the debt and still no contact this debt is being recommended for write off.
|
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|
Total Sundry Debt |
£6,431.49 |
|||
|
Type of Debt (reference no.) |
Name and address |
Amount £ |
Period |
Comments |
|
Housing Benefits 359764 |
ES
|
£15,659.43 |
04.02.2002 to 04.08.2008 |
|
|
Summary |
The initial invoice was raised on 04th April 2006, and subsequent court costs invoice was raised on 04th August 2008.
This claim was initially assessed as a single person in receipt of income support.
However, after an investigation by the DWP; the claim was cancelled as she was living with a partner as a couple.
A County Court judgement was obtained to try and recover the debt and court costs were raised which were added to the account in August 2008.
When a reapplication for benefit was made repayment was recovered from ongoing benefit until housing benefit ceased in 2015.
After these other methods of recovery were pursued including bailiffs and potential attachment of earnings requests during periods of employment without success.
However, due to the age of the debt and no success in recovery methods this debt is now being recommended for write off but pursued the debt for as long as possible due to the size of the debt.
|
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|
Total Sundry Debt |
£15,659.43 |
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