DWP benefit claimants at risk of having to pay back cash - here’s why

Benefit claimants across the country could be at risk of repaying money payed to them by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

There can be a wide array of reasons that you're asked to pay back benefit payments, sometimes not due to your own fault. In many cases, you will see your benefit payments reduced until the full debt is paid back.

However, it's important to ensure that you pay back any benefit debt you have as soon as possible as it can rack up, leading to higher payments in the future. If you're unsure of whether you owe the DWP any money or not, you can check online here.

Here's a full breakdown of why you may have been asked to pay back benefit payments:

Claim error

In some cases, you may have accidentally given incorrect information to the DWP when making a claim. For example, you may have been overpaid on your benefit payments because the government department was told you were earning less than you actually are.

Not reporting changes in circumstances

The DWP must be informed of any changes in your life that could affect your benefits claim. Some changes that you may need to report include:

• having a child
• changing your bank details
• changes to your immigration status, if you’re not a British citizen
• finding a job
• your rent going up or down
• moving in with your partner
• finishing a job
• changes to your savings, investments and how much money you have
• starting to care for a child
• changes to your health condition
• starting to care for disabled person
• changes to your earnings - only if you’re self-employed
• changing your mobile number
• becoming too ill to work or meet your work coach
• changing your email address
• moving to a new address

The DWP cautions: "Changes in your circumstances can affect how much you're paid for your whole assessment period - not just from the date you report them." To report a change, claimants should log into their Universal Credit account on GOV.UK.

A claimant in your household has passed away

When a claimant passes away, the DWP may still continue to make payments attributed to them, officially known as 'direct payments after death'. Generally, however, these payments are recovered directly from the deceased claimant's bank account.

If the DWP is unable to recover the money though, they may ask the next of kin to foot the bill.