Housing Benefit overpayments - Print version

Causes of an overpayment

The amount of benefit you get to help you pay your rent depends on what you tell us when you make your claim. If your circumstances change then your Housing Benefit may change too.

It is your responsibility to tell us about any change in your circumstance or a change in circumstance of the people living with you have, which might affect your claim.

If you do not tell us straight away, you may be paid more Housing Benefit than you're entitled to, which is called an overpayment. We will ask you to pay the overpayment back.

You can avoid an overpayment if you know a change is going to take place by telling us in writing before it happens or tell us as soon as the change happens.

If you have informed the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Her Majesty's Revenues and Customs (HMRC) about a change, this does not mean that they will pass the information on to the Benefits Service. You must also tell the Benefits Service yourself.

Information we will tell you if you are overpaid

If you have been paid too much Housing Benefit, we will send you a letter to tell you:

• that there has been an overpayment of benefit
• the reason for the overpayment
• the amount of benefit you have been overpaid
• how the overpayment has been calculated
• how we will recover the overpayment

Action you can take about your overpayment

• To discuss your overpayment, please call the Benefits Service on 024 7683 1800.
• To set up an arrangement to repay the overpayment, please call the Housing Benefit Overpayment Team on 024 7683 4098. See further contact details and information about opening times [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/54/benefits/3123/housing_benefit_overpayments/7].

If you disagree with a Housing Benefit overpayment decision, you can ask for the decision to be looked at again [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/benefitsappeals].

Ways to pay

Housing Benefit in payment

If you are still receiving Housing Benefit we may take an amount from your future Housing Benefit payments to claim back the money you have been overpaid. We will write and tell you before we do this and we will tell you how much we are going to take.

No Housing Benefit

If you are no longer receiving Housing Benefit, we will send you an invoice for the amount you have been overpaid.

You can repay the overpayment:

• in full, which you can pay online [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/payonline].
• by setting up a monthly Direct Debit, please contact the Housing Benefit Overpayment Team [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/54/benefits/3123/housing_benefit_overpayments/7]
• in instalments using various payment options. To make use of this method, you must ring the Housing Benefit Overpayment Team [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/54/benefits/3123/housing_benefit_overpayments/7] to set up an arrangement

The ways in which you can set up repayment of the overpayment yourself are explained below:

Online

You can pay online [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/payonline] at any time. You will need your invoice number and your debit or credit card details.

Direct Debit

We now offer payment via a monthly Direct Debit, please contact us on 024 7683 4098 in order to set this.

Phone

You can pay at any time by calling our payments line on 024 7678 7778. You will need your invoice number and your debit or credit card details.

Payment machines

Payment machines are available at the Customer Service Centre [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/directory-record/50256/customer-service-centre].

Bank - internet or telephone banking

You can pay using online banking if you are registered for it, or your own bank's telephone system. You will need:

• your invoice number
• our sort code: 56-00-45
• our account number: 38490927

Bank - in person

If you have a bank or Post Office account, you can pay at your local branch (except HSBC and Yorkshire Bank). Take your invoice number and your debit or credit card details.

By post

Cheques should be made payable to Coventry City Council. Please write your invoice number, name and address on the back.

Please post to Revenues and Benefits, Coventry City Council, PO Box 7097, Coventry, CV6 9SL. Please note this is a postal address only.

Enforcement action which could be taken against you

The following recovery actions could be taken against you should you fail to make payment or contact the Housing Benefit Overpayment Team to discuss an Arrangement:

 Issue your Employer with a Direct Earnings Attachment Order (DEA)

A deduction of up to 20% will be taken from your net wage. This will depend on what you earn and no court action is required to obtain this.

Apply to the County Court for a Tribunal Award or County Court Judgment (CCJ)

If a Tribunal Award is granted this may lead to Bankruptcy Proceedings against you or an application for a Charging Order being obtained against your property.

A Tribunal Award may affect your future credit rating and costs incurred added to the amount you owe.

Obtain an Attachment of Benefit Order

A deduction will be taken from another benefit which you receive, for example, Jobseeker's Allowance.

Pass your account to our external Enforcement Agents, formally known as Bailiffs.

All costs incurred will be added to the amount you owe.

This is a serious matter and should not be ignored; you must give this your immediate attention by contacting the Housing Benefit Overpayment Team [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/54/benefits/3123/housing_benefit_overpayments/7].

If you are experiencing severe financial difficulties, please see details of agencies [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/54/benefits/3123/housing_benefit_overpayments/6] that can offer advice.

If you are struggling to repay your overpayment

The Housing Benefit Overpayment Team can be contacted on;

024 7683 4098 or HBOverPayments@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:HBOverPayments@coventry.gov.uk]

Our opening hours are 9am to 4:30pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10am to 4:30pm on Tuesday and 9am to 4pm on Friday.

If you are experiencing severe financial difficulties, for information and guidance you can contact:

• Coventry Independent Advice Service [http://www.covadvice.org.uk] on 024 7652 1100
• Coventry Citizens Advice [https://www.coventrycitizensadvice.org.uk]
• Coventry Law Centre on 024 7622 3053 or email enquiries@covlaw.org.uk [mailto:enquiries@covlaw.org.uk]

Contact us

Email

You can email the Housing Benefit Overpayment Team at hboverpayments@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:hboverpayments@coventry.gov.uk]

Telephone

You can also call the Overpayments Team on 024 7683 4098, but please be aware that the phone lines can be very busy. The phone lines are open during the following times:

• Monday 9am to 12noon
• Tuesday 10am to 12noon
• Wednesday 9am to 12noon
• Thursday 9am to 12noon

Online

Check your housing benefit, tell the Benefits Service about changes, and find answers to your questions [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/benefits].

Post

If you need to write to the Benefits Service, the address is: Revenues & Benefits, Coventry City Council, PO Box 7097, Coventry, CV6 9SL. Please note this is a postal address only.