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Social Security overpayments

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WQ.130/2024

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BY DEPUTY M.B. ANDREWS OF ST HELIER NORTH

QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 8th APRIL 2024 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 15th APRIL 2024

Question

“In respect of overpayments made by the Social Security Department, will the Minister advise –

  1. the total balance of overpayments outstanding;
  2. the number of individuals affected; and
  3. whether any consideration is being given to writing off the overpayments and, if so, the timescale for this to be carried out?”

Answer

  1. Overpayments in respect of Income Support benefit relating to existing and previous claims totalled £8.46 Million as at the first week of April 2024. This figure includes both current and historic debt.
  2. Overpayments are currently registered against 2,266 existing and closed income support claims.
  3. As Minister I have asked the Customer and Local Services Department to prioritise looking at the issue of overpayments, particularly in how they are affected by communication and the ease of navigating the benefit system. I do not wish vulnerable people to be put in difficult situations because of overpayments that they would have found it difficult to avoid. This work is already being carried out and this area is under active review.