Frederick Day, a benefits claimant from Ipswich, was overpaid £2,169 in Universal Credit due to a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) system error between February 2025 and January. Despite repeatedly notifying the DWP of the mistake, he has been ordered to repay the full amount.
Day expressed frustration over the situation, stating, “I’m a genuine bloke and if I have to, I’ll repay it, but I want the overpayment from July onwards to be waived, which I believe I’m entitled to. It’s not right that we customers should bear the cost of their errors.” He added, “Many people wouldn’t bother reporting such mistakes; they would just keep the money.”
He highlighted the emotional toll saying, “You struggle every week to keep your head above water and suddenly you find yourself £3,500 in debt through no fault of your own. It’s incredibly stressful and leads to sleepless nights.”
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Day further explained his dilemma: “I could easily spend that money on a new wardrobe, but it’s not mine—it belongs to them. If the system is broken, sweeping the problem under the carpet at the expense of customers is not the solution.”
A DWP spokesperson responded, confirming their commitment “to working with customers to agree affordable repayment arrangements, taking into account individual circumstances.” They also noted that improved reporting, verification, and real-time data use have reduced Universal Credit overpayments to their lowest levels since the pandemic.