dwp social fund

[Geddy1961]

hello.

 

yesterday i recieved a letter from dwp about a "social fund payment" that they say is still owed to them

i think it goes back at least 3 years or more.as they helped us with money to help us move house,removal etc.

 

they are asking me for £502.and to pay by 28th november 2013.

 

at this moment in time i have no income,as i look after my 2 year old daughter while my other 3 children are at school,when my wife is at work.

 

id like some advice on this,and how to deal with them

 

would be appreciated.

 

thanks

[letsgetitsorted]

i would telephone and confirm that you owe the money.

if you do ask about paying it back in very small installments either from benefits or the income (depending what your situation is)

 

hope that helps

[antone]

First off, do you agree that you owe the money (but are just unable to pay it back right now) or do you think they might have made a mistake?

[Geddy1961]

yes.i agree i owe the money.i think it goes back to 2006.though i know it doesnt matter about how far back it was

i will just find it tough and if at all to pay them back at this moment in time.though i dont mind paying it back if i owe it

but cant right now

[sequenci]

When did you stop making payments?

Are you on benefits at the moment?

[Geddy1961]

think the payments stopped when i came off jsa,as it was coming straight out of my jsa payments.

i started work at that time,but never heard from dwp.i do remember them sending letters to an old address even after me telling them the new address.

 

at this moment we recieve housing benefit,and a small amount of council tax benefit

 

its not i dont want to pay.i just dont know how i will able too

[sequenci]

Do you know when that change actually happened?

[Geddy1961]

id say it was around the end of may 2006 when i came off jsa,and the payments they were taking stopped.is that what you meant ?

[Nystagmite]

Can you phone them on Monday and see if you can set up a payment plan?

[abc123def]

The citizens advice bureau can do an income and expenditure sheet for your family which sets out the legal amount seen as 'available' for creditors that courts would normally keep to. I'd recommend going to the CAB and working out that amount with them and then if offered to the DWP they are highly likely to accept that offer if they know it was worked out by CAB using their formula. Even if it is as little as £5 per month it is something.