From today, benefit claimants who make a mistake on their forms that leads to an overpayment can be fined £50 for it.. and before you ask, no, if the DWP make a mistake they aren’t going to give you £50.
The new rules state:
A new Civil Penalty of £50 is being introduced for claimants who incur an overpayment caused by:
- either (a) negligently making incorrect statements and failing to take reasonable steps to correct the error
- or (b) failing, without reasonable excuse, to provide information or to disclose changes in their circumstances.
The penalty will only be for cases of claimant error. If the claimant is successfully prosecuted for a fraud or offered an administrative penalty or caution they cannot then be issued with a Civil Penalty for the same offence.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will impose a Civil Penalty where appropriate whilst for Local…
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