‘DWP took me to court docket for 30p error – it value me my dwelling and £20,000’

A father says he has been compelled to promote his dwelling and pay again practically £20,000 in benefit overpayments after mistakenly ticking the improper field on a Carer’s Allowance kind.

George Henderson, 64, advised the Guardian he made the error when claiming the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) profit for his son John who has studying difficulties.

Mr Henderson mentioned he opted to assert Carer’s Allowance after John, who had develop into hooked on heroin, was having his incapacity profit taken by drug sellers each week.

The profit was solely 30p extra every week than what John was already getting. However, it allowed Mr Henderson to have the cash deposited into his account as a substitute, which he would then share together with his son as a part of a every day allowance.

However, misunderstanding the shape, Mr Henderson unintentionally marked “unemployed” on the applying, pondering it was referring to his son.

The error resulted within the DWP demanding six years’ price of funds again, amassing to £19,506.20, in addition to prosecuting him for fraud.

Mr Henderson advised the Guardian that he was compelled to promote his former two-bedroom council home to pay the debt or face a seven-month jail time period.

Feeling “heartbroken”, Mr Henderson finally offered his property for £115,000 and after paying off his mortgage and the DWP, he mentioned he was left with simply £6,000.

Despite protesting his innocence, investigators mentioned he had lied about having a job and had ignored letters reminding him to report any adjustments in circumstances.

A choose at Preston Crown Court gave Mr Henderson a 32-week suspended sentence in 2018 and ordered him to put on an digital tag for 16 weeks, which “humiliated” him.

Mr Henderson, who was left feeling suicidal after the prosecution, then needed to be housed by the native council in sheltered lodging.

He now depends on Universal Credit to get by as he’s too unwell to work.

Mr Henderson advised the Guardian: “Believe it or not, when I moved in I couldn’t get in and out of the bath because I’ve got two hip replacements and I’ve got a serious spinal condition. So it cost them £7,000 to put in a wet room.

“It’s costing them the Universal Credit. It’s absolutely ludicrous. It’s actually cost the taxpayer or the Government money by doing this.”

To assist clear his title, Mr Henderson mentioned he wrote to Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary.

Last month he obtained a letter from the DWP apologising for the scenario, nevertheless, it refused to present him the cash again.

According to the Guardian, the letter reads: “The appeal conceded that you were a convincing and credible witness [and] it was more probable than not that you were telling the truth and that the false declaration was an innocent mistake.

“I am so sorry that you feel that experiences with DWP have contributed to your financial problems, severe emotional trauma and mental health.”

However, Mr Henderson mentioned he refuses to simply accept the apology, indicating that it shouldn’t have taken six years for the DWP to tell him that the improper field had been ticked.

He mentioned: “Why not in the first year? Then it would be acceptable. I would have been able to pay the first year, I made a mistake.”

A DWP spokesperson advised the Guardian: “We are committed to fairly supporting all those who need the welfare system while fulfilling our duty to treating taxpayers’ money responsibly.

“Claimants have a responsibility to inform DWP of any changes in their circumstances that could impact their award, and it is right that we recover taxpayers’ money when this has not occurred. We will work with those who need support with their repayment terms whilst protecting the public purse.”