An overpayment happens when we pay you or your landlord an amount of Housing Benefit which you were not entitled to. If we have paid you too much benefit, we will usually ask you to pay back the amount we have overpaid.

You need to tell us of any changes in your circumstances to prevent any overpayments.

We will send you a letter giving you the full details of the overpayment. The letter will tell you:

• why the overpayment happened
• the amount you were overpaid
• the period of the overpayment
• how we intend to recover the overpayment
• what to do if you disagree

How the overpayment is paid back

• if you are still getting Housing Benefit, we may reduce your payments to recover the overpayment
• if we are not paying your Housing Benefit, we may send you a bill, and you should make arrangements to pay us
• if we paid your landlord your benefit, then we may ask the landlord to repay the overpayment
• we can ask your employer to set up an attachment of earnings
• we can ask the Department for Works and Pensions to take money out of other benefits you might receive to collect the overpayment
• in cases where you have moved out of the area, we can take money from any housing benefit paid to you by another council
• you may be sent a bill, you will be able to pay online or by calling our automated payments line on 01622 602544 and choose option 5

Direct earnings attachments

We have the power to recover overpaid Housing Benefit by taking deductions from your earnings without the need to apply for a court order. This is known as a direct earnings attachment (DEA). If you are an employer, you can find out more on our webpage.