Carer forced to sell home after innocent mistake on benefit form

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Carer,Benefit Overpayments,Innocent Mistake

George Henderson, a carer who made an innocent mistake on a benefit form, had to sell his home to repay nearly £20,000 in overpayments. He is now fighting to clear his name after the Department for Work and Pensions acknowledged the error.

George Henderson had to sell his home to repay nearly £20,000, years after ticking wrong box on carer’s allowance formA carer who says he was “dragged through the courts” and had to sell his home to pay back almost £20,000 in benefit overpayments is fighting to clear his name after the Department for Work and Pensions acknowledged he made an innocent mistake.

By that point he had claimed £19,506.20 – about £60 a week. The DWP not only wanted it all back but also prosecuted him for fraud. Investigators said he had lied about having a job and had ignored annual letters reminding him to report any changes in circumstances. Henderson eventually sold the property for £115,000, and after paying off his mortgage and the DWP he was left with just £6,000. “It breaks my heart,” he said. “I’ve been back and looked at twice and I’ve actually broke down and cried.”

The new benefit was worth 30p a week more but meant Henderson could receive the money into his bank account and pay it to his son as a daily allowance, with the aim of stopping it being taken by the heroin dealers.

Carer Benefit Overpayments Innocent Mistake Department For Work And Pensions Home Sale

 

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