Overpayments

Can overpayments be reduced?

If you have been overpaid Housing Benefit we may be able to reduce the overpayment by recalculating your entitlement.

Underlying entitlement

Underlying Entitlement is the amount of Housing Benefit the claimant would have been entitled to if we had known about their true circumstances at the time of the changed circumstances.   If you supply details of your income and capital for the period of the overpayment, we can work out what your entitlement would have been if we had known about your changes and use this amount of Housing Benefit to reduce what you owe.

Request an explanation

If there is anything you do not understand about your benefit decision or you think the overpayment calculation is incorrect, you can request an explanation, this is called a statement of reasons. We must receive a written request for a statement of reasons within one month of the date of the decision.