| answer text |
<p>In 2018/19, 16,260 successful applications for a reduction in their repayment rate
were made by claimants or their representatives.</p><p>In 2018/19, 10 overpayments
were waived, either in full or in part, as a result of applications made by claimants
or their representatives. In the same period, 20 applications were unsuccessful.</p><p>The
Department has an obligation to ensure that public funds are administered responsibly
and to abide by the principles set out in Her Majesty’s Treasury’s guidance on Managing
Public Money (which can be found on gov.uk). Waivers are only granted in limited circumstances
including where the recovery of an overpayment is causing substantial financial and/or
medical hardship and clear supporting evidence of this is provided.</p><p>Rather than
waiving benefit overpayments, the Department works to support claimants through the
recovery of these overpayments.</p><p>If a claimant is having difficulty repaying
a benefit overpayment, they can request a review of the amount that is being taken.
Any adjustment to the rate of repayment will be based on the individual circumstances
of the claimant.</p><p><em>*All figures in this response have been sourced from internal
management information and were not intended for public release. They should therefore
not be compared to any similar figures subsequently released by the Department. All
figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.</em></p>
|
|
