Pay an overpayment
If you have been paid more Housing Benefit than you’re entitled to, you’ll need to pay this back. This is called overpayment.
Informing you of an overpayment
An overpayment can be recovered from the person who claimed or received the payment. This maybe you, your landlord or someone else who received the benefit on your behalf.
We’ll write to you and tell you the reason for the overpayment, the dates and amount you’ve been overpaid.
If you disagree with an overpayment decision you must ask us to review the decision within one month.
Appeal a decision about your benefit
Pay an overpayment
If you have received an invoice
You can:
- make full payment online
- call the 24-hour payment line on 020 8708 4708 and select option 7
You will need the full invoice reference number starting with number 5.
If you’re receiving Housing Benefit
We’ll make weekly deductions from the amount we pay you until you pay the overpayment back.
If your Housing Benefit stops and there is still an overpayment, you’ll be sent an invoice for the remaining amount. You’ll need to repay this back.
If you’re unable to pay
You’ll need to contact the Overpayment Team on 020 8708 4518, to discuss the option of paying by instalments.
We may ask you to complete an online financial assessment form and provide evidence.
Financial assessment form online
If you do not pay back your overpayment
Do not ignore the invoice you receive from us. We’ll take action to get the money that is owed.
The action we’ll take could be:
- recover from Housing Benefit entitlements for any other tenant you may have, if you’re a landlord
- payment from any credit you may have in your Redbridge account
- deductions from benefits you receive from the Department for Work and Pensions
- deductions directly from your earnings under a Direct Earnings Attachment
- register the debt in the County Court for an order of recovery. This will result in more costs and enforcement
