Scrutiny Panel launches Review into overpayment of Income Support benefits
13 June 2023
The Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel (the Panel) has launched a review into the overpayment of Income Support benefits.
The Panel launched this review to investigate the extent and causes of benefit overpayments and the effects that overpayments have on claimants of Income Support benefits.
The Panel has been made aware of concerns that overpayments can have significant financial implications for individuals and their families due to the difficulties faced when overpaid amounts must be paid back.
The Review will seek to examine the following key issues:
- The prevalence and causes of Income Support benefit overpayments
- The effect of overpayments on claimants of the Income Support benefit
- How overpayments are currently addressed by the Customer and Local Services Department.
- The current policy surrounding overpayments and repayments.
The Panel will gather evidence from community organisations and from members of the public on their experiences and will hold Public Hearings as part of the review.
Deputy Rob Ward, Chair of the Panel, said: "This was an issue which was raised by members of the public on a number of occasions and it is important for the Panel to gauge the extent of the problems people may face with over-payments – and repaying them – and how this could be better addressed. We are keen to hear from anyone who has found themselves in this situation so that we can gain a proper knowledge of the issues. However, we also need to be clear that the aim is to understand the process and challenges rather than deal with individual cases."
More information about the review can be found here.
