DWP Debt Management (benefit overpayments)
If you have been overpaid a DWP benefit, you can call to talk through your repayment options, including what you can afford to pay. If DWP is taking money from your pay (a Direct Earnings Attachment), DWP's guidance for employers says an employee should use the number at the top of its letter.
Good to know
GOV.UK says that if you do not pay back the money or contact DWP Debt Management, it may ask your employer to make deductions from your pay, pass the case to an independent debt collector or pass it to its Debt Enforcement Team. If you still get benefits, the amount you get is reduced until the money is paid back. DWP's guidance for employers says an employee can contact it to negotiate a fixed deduction rate, which is usually lower than the calculated one. There is a different process for tax credit and Child Benefit overpayments, and for overpayments by Social Security Scotland or the Department for Communities. In Northern Ireland, the Department for Communities Debt Management handles overpayments, including Direct Earnings Attachments: 0800 587 1322.
Before you call
Have ready
- the letter DWP sent you, if you have one: for a deduction from your pay, DWP's employer guidance says to use the number at the top of that letter
They can
- talk you through your options, including what you can afford to pay
- be used to arrange repayment: GOV.UK says you can pay back an overpayment in full or set up regular monthly payments
- be contacted if you think too much has been taken for a repayment
- agree a fixed, usually lower, deduction rate from your pay: DWP's guidance for employers says an employee can contact it to negotiate one
They cannot
- deal with an overpayment from the Department for Communities (Northern Ireland), Social Security Scotland, tax credits or Child Benefit: GOV.UK says those use a different process
In the emergency guides: Money is being taken from my wages →
- Phone
- 0800 916 0647
- Website
- https://www.gov.uk/benefit-overpayments
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 7:30pm
- Coverage
- Great Britain
- Languages
- English
- Last checked
- October 10, 2026
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