Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit overpayments happen when we have paid you (or someone else on your behalf) benefit which you are not entitled to. This might be because you may: 

• have provided us with incorrect information 
• not have told us about a change in your circumstances 
• have been given an incorrect benefit amount 

When we ask you to pay back an overpayment, we will:

• send you an invoice and ask you to repay the amount
• take weekly deductions from your Housing Benefit payments - the amount will depend on your circumstances 

You can help avoid overpayments by:

• telling us before or as soon as there are changes in your circumstances
• checking your Housing Benefit award letter to make sure we've used the right information to calculate your benefit

Southwark Income Enforcement Services collect all debts.

If you don't get Housing Benefit now, we’ll send you a bill for the full amount you owe. You must pay in full within one month or we’ll increase the amount you owe by 8%.

If you do get Housing Benefit now, we’ll take your repayment directly from your payments.

If you’re a landlord and you get Housing Benefit for your tenant, we'll send you a bill for the full overpayment amount. You must repay this within one month or we’ll take the amount from any Housing Benefit you get for any of your tenants. 

Paying by phone

You can call 0845 600 0611 (find out about call charges). This automated payment line is open 24 hours a day.

Choose the option for Southwark Income Enforcement Services. Quote your overpayment reference number.

You can call 020 7525 0447 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday if you have any problems making your payment.

Payment arrangements

We'll consider a payment arrangement if you cannot pay in full now.

Unrepaid overpayments

Southwark Income Enforcement Services recover unrepaid overpayments by applying for:

• a direct earnings attachment - your employer will be asked to take a regular amount of up to 20% from your wages
• an order to enforce an award - this is a court order to pay the debt
• a charging order or order for sale - if you own a property, this could end in the forced sale of your home to repay the money you owe us

Repay a Housing Benefit overpayment online