Overpaid Benefit

An overpayment occurs when you have been paid Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit that you were not entitled to.

This could be because you did not inform Epping Forest District Council about a change to your circumstances such as:

• Your Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance has stopped
• You have had an increase in your income
• There has been a change to your household composition
• You have moved address

Do I have to pay the money back?

Yes, in most cases overpaid benefits have to be paid back, even if it is because of the council’s error, if you could have reasonably known that you were being overpaid. However, you may not have to pay it back if it was our error and you couldn't have reasonably known you were being overpaid.

We can recover in any of the following ways:
• From ongoing Housing Benefit
• Sundry debt (invoice)
• Deduction from other benefits
• For Council Tax excess benefit we will debit your Council Tax account

What if I disagree with the overpayment?

If you disagree that you have been overpaid or that you should repay the overpayment, you can appeal. Click here for information on appeals.

If you want to appeal you should do so within one calendar month of the date of your decision letter.

What happens if I do nothing?

If you do not appeal against your overpayment and make no arrangements to repay it, the council may take further action against you. This could include legal proceeding in County Court. Click here for Housing and Council Tax Benefits forms.