paying back benefits?

Question

i`m asking this on behalf of my aunt, she has to start paying back a certain benefit she claimed but wasn`t entirely entitled to anyway what she wants to know is, if they come to an agreement with her saying she`s to pay back £5 or £10 per week of her benefits and she then goes back out to work and would they up the weekly repayments because of this or are they likely to stick to the agreed amount? thanx.

Answer 1

Well first of all, she does not have to volunteer the information that she has gone back to work, only thing is if she signs off the benefits they might want to know why. when your aunt does start work she could pay a slightly higher amount to clear the over payment more quickly, only pay more if your aunt can afford to do so and not to leave herself short of cash because of it. otherwise stick to the said agreement and pay the same amount as she is doing now. good luck

Answer 2

I would guess that the agreed repayments will be based on what she can afford to pay abck. If she goes back to work then the repayments would probably be reassessed, perhaps after 6 months. It might be that they agree that the repayments can stay at the same level.

Of course she will need to tell the DSS that she has gone back to work otherwise she will be in a simular situation of having to repay the unemployment benefits she has got in error while working (such as national insurance contributions even if she doesnt get Jab seekers allowance or whatever)

Answer 3

If she starts paying back £5 or £10 per week for benefit fraud,
and then goes back to work, it shouldn't change her agreement with the Benefit Office. She/They have come to an agreement, and it should be honoured.

Answer 4

She does not need to volunteer the information that she has gone back to work.