Paying back Social Fund loan from 9 years ago.....

[Stumpy666]

Hi, Hope someone can give me some advice. I received a letter from DWP saying that they were going to start stopping money from my ESA to pay back a loan of £345.

 

I rang them and told them I have not had a loan or applied for one, they told me it is for a loan I had in 2007 (9 years ago), I told them I am sure it was paid back as it is stopped automatically. He was adamant it was not paid back, and they will be stopping the money. I said surely after 6 years it is statute barred but he said this does not apply to them.

 

Does anyone know if this is correct please.

Edited November 10, 2016 by honeybee13
Paras.

[Madamfluff]

Hi, Hope someone can give me some advice. I received a letter from DWP saying that they were going to start stopping money from my ESA to pay back a loan of £345.

 

I rang them and told them I have not had a loan or applied for one, they told me it is for a loan I had in 2007 (9 years ago), I told them I am sure it was paid back as it is stopped automatically. He was adamant it was not paid back, and they will be stopping the money. I said surely after 6 years it is statute barred but he said this does not apply to them.

 

Does anyone know if this is correct please.

 

 

If you are sure you paid it back go down the subject access request route

 

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-request-for-personal-information

 

 

other wise yes they are correct

 

 

The DWP has 6 years to take action through the courts to recover benefit overpayments and social fund loans. This time starts running from the date of the final decision made on the overpayment and from when the social fund loan was due to be paid. But the DWP are still allowed to make deductions from your benefit for a debt over 6 years old as they don’t need to go to court to do this. This applies to overpayments of benefits such as income support, job seekers allowance, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and paying back social fund loans.

[Stumpy666]

Thank you madamfluff.

[dx100uk]

yes def sar route is free with them

make them prove it.

9/10 they cant

[Stumpy666]

Hi dx100uk, thanks for the advice, am I reading your reply right that I dont need to send the £10 with the SAR.

[dx100uk]

Nope its free to then

[Stumpy666]

dx100uk Thank you very much.