An overpayment is caused when you have been paid more housing benefit than you are entitled to receive. An invoice, and possibly other notices, will have been sent to you about the overpayment.
How you can pay your invoice
Please quote your housing benefit overpayment invoice number.
Paying over the telephone
Pay using your debit or credit card by calling 0300 456 0502.
This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, calls are charged at a local rate. Please quote your housing benefit overpayment invoice number.
Paying in person
You can make your payment by cash or cheque by visiting Solihull Connect at Theatre Square, Solihull or at Solihull Connect at Coppice Way, Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre.
For their opening times please visit our Solihull Connect walk in centres page.
Paying by post
Send your payment to:
Income and Awards
PO Box 1761
The Council House
Solihull
B91 9RR
Please make cheques and postal orders payable to Solihull MBC.
Please write your housing benefit overpayment invoice number on the back of your cheque or postal order.
Paying by BACs
Payment should be sent quoting your housing benefit overpayment invoice number to:
Barclays Bank
Sort Code: 20-07-71
Account Number: 50813222
Important information: if you do not quote your housing benefit overpayment invoice number when making payment, there will be a delay in your payment reaching your account.
What happens if I don't pay back the overpayment?
We may ask the Department of Works and Pensions to make deductions from a benefit that they pay you.
Where the debt remains unpaid, and deductions from benefit are not possible, we may contact either HMRC or your employer to apply a Direct Earning Attachment to your wages.
If a deduction from benefit or Direct Earning Attachment is not possible then your invoice may be sent to a debt collection agency. We can also obtain a County Court Judgement and this allows us to instruct enforcement agents, take bankruptcy proceedings, apply for a charging order or obtain a third party order.
Your credit rating may be affected and in addition to the original amount of the overpayment, you will also be responsible for repaying any additional costs incurred.
Having problems paying?
If you are having problems paying, please contact us by:
- Emailing: overpayments@solihull.gov.uk
- Phoning: the Overpayments Team on 0121 704 8078
- Writing to: Income and Awards, PO Box 1761, Solihull, B91 9RR
Every effort will be made to make an acceptable arrangement.
If you are struggling because of financial difficulties you may find the following information useful:
- Solihull Community Housing tenants and leaseholds phone 0121 717 1515 or email the Solihull Community Housing Money Advice Team
- Email Solihull First for Advice and Support or phone 0121 709 7590
- Visit National Debtline
What if I disagree with the overpayment?
If you have questions about how the overpayment has been calculated please contact us by:
- Emailing: benefits@solihull.gov.uk
- Phoning: Solihull Connect on 0121 704 8200
- Writing to: Income and Awards, PO Box 8118, Solihull, B91 9WZ
What happens if I have re-paid too much, and my account is in credit?
If your housing benefit overpayment account is in credit and you have other outstanding housing benefit overpayments, or another amount due to the Council (for example council tax or a sundry income invoice) we’ll use the credit to reduce any arrears (unless you tell us otherwise).
Refunds for accounts in credit
We’ll provide a refund if:
- you are in credit
- no other debts are due to be paid
- you pay by direct debit
If you have not paid by direct debit you will need to request a refund using our online form.
Completing this form does not guarantee that you will receive a refund. We will check your account to see if you are in credit and whether a refund can be issued.
Refunds will only be paid by bank transfer and could take up to 4 weeks to reach your bank account.
Joint accounts
If your account is in credit, and your housing benefits overpayment account is in more than one name, we will refund you to a joint bank account.
If you do not have a joint bank account you will need to complete our online form with supporting evidence confirming who the payment needs go to and the bank account details (bank sort code, account number and bank account name) to make the refund payment to.