Hi.
I have a bit of an issue with my local authority (Hackney).
My mother passed away about 5 years ago, and my Gran, who used to deal with probate for a living sorted out any possible inheritance I was supposed to get.
One of these was an ongoing percentage of my late mothers pension for as long as I was in full time education. I am in my final year at University and have been receiving about £100 a month while I've been there (this ceased for 2 years as I took a slight break), but has been ongoing since I resumed, until December.
I thought I was entitled to this money and as you can imagine had no issue with spending it on my living expenses (which have been tight nonetheless, though I know this doesn't matter)
Now I have received a letter saying they have paid me in error and the payments should have stopped on my 23rd birthday (I'm 25 in May).
They are now asking for the money that was 'overpaid' to be paid back - about £3200 in total.
Now, I do not have this money sitting around and would have to pay in installments if anything. I had no idea I wasn't supposed to be receiving any money after my 23rd birthday and was just accepting the money as it was helping me live.
I don't know how they could have made this mistake.
One possibility could be that because I took a 2 year gap they resumed paying when I resumed my studies without taking into account I was over 23.
This is the only logical explanation I can think of.
What should I do? I'm a little worried they will turn around and want it all back at once and take me to court if I cannot pay.
I can't afford to have a CCJ or be declared bankrupt, I'm about to finish University and plan on getting into full time employment and ideally get a mortgage. This will literally mess up the next 5-10 years of my life if I get taken to court...
I appreciate any help.
-greg
I have a bit of an issue with my local authority (Hackney).
My mother passed away about 5 years ago, and my Gran, who used to deal with probate for a living sorted out any possible inheritance I was supposed to get.
One of these was an ongoing percentage of my late mothers pension for as long as I was in full time education. I am in my final year at University and have been receiving about £100 a month while I've been there (this ceased for 2 years as I took a slight break), but has been ongoing since I resumed, until December.
I thought I was entitled to this money and as you can imagine had no issue with spending it on my living expenses (which have been tight nonetheless, though I know this doesn't matter)
Now I have received a letter saying they have paid me in error and the payments should have stopped on my 23rd birthday (I'm 25 in May).
They are now asking for the money that was 'overpaid' to be paid back - about £3200 in total.
Now, I do not have this money sitting around and would have to pay in installments if anything. I had no idea I wasn't supposed to be receiving any money after my 23rd birthday and was just accepting the money as it was helping me live.
I don't know how they could have made this mistake.
One possibility could be that because I took a 2 year gap they resumed paying when I resumed my studies without taking into account I was over 23.
This is the only logical explanation I can think of.
What should I do? I'm a little worried they will turn around and want it all back at once and take me to court if I cannot pay.
I can't afford to have a CCJ or be declared bankrupt, I'm about to finish University and plan on getting into full time employment and ideally get a mortgage. This will literally mess up the next 5-10 years of my life if I get taken to court...
I appreciate any help.
-greg
