Housing benefit overpayments – further information

An overpayment is when an amount of housing benefit has been paid for which there was no entitlement under the regulations.

If we have decided to reclaim a housing benefit overpayment you can dispute the decision.

We will seek to reclaim overpayments, either from the person who caused the overpayment or from the person who received the overpayment. We may also decide to take criminal proceedings in respect of fraudulent overpayments.

A fraudulent overpayment may occur when a person deliberately gives a false statement or document, or has deliberately failed to report a change of circumstances with the intention of obtaining or retaining benefit.