Overpayments of council tax benefit

Overpayments may occur due to a change in circumstances such as:

Overpayments of council tax benefit are recoverable unless:

• They are caused by an official error; and
• The claimant or the person receiving the benefit could not be expected to have known there was an overpayment; and
• The claimant or person receiving the council tax benefit did not contribute to the error.

We recover overpayments as a lump sum from your council tax account. You will then be sent a new council tax demand, with an amended installment plan.

What if you don't agree with an overpayment?

The first thing to do when you receive your overpayment letter is to read it carefully, it will contain a paragraph which will explain what the overpayment is for and the dates you have been overpaid.

If you still disagree with the overpayment after reading the explanation you can do the following:

• Contact us
• You can appeal against the overpayment. You must do this in writing and within one calendar month of the date of the letter.