I took on the DWP and won back £22,000 after a huge benefits mistake
A distraught pensioner has won his months-long battle with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) after being told he owed thousands of pounds – with the help of The Sun.
Last year we revealed how Robert Vincent was told he had to pay back a staggering £22,000 after the ministry said there were errors in his pension credit application.
Pension credit is a benefit that helps people over the state pension age (currently 66 years) and on a low income with the costs of living.
The benefit will increase their weekly income to at least £201.05 for single pensioners and £306.85 for couples.
Mr Vincent was given a plan that would have meant he would pay back the money until he was 86.
The 75-year-old was forced to cancel all his insurance policies just to afford food after the DWP said he had to pay back £258.72 every four weeks until February 2030, and then £105.17 until it was paid off in full.
Mr Vincent disputed the repayment plan at the time, but accepted that he would have to pay it back if he had actually made a mistake.
The DWP had blamed him for providing the incorrect income when he claimed benefits six years ago.
The Sun first contacted the DWP on behalf of Mr Vincent in September asking it to investigate his claim, after which they insisted he had declared the wrong pension income.
But it has now emerged that the fault lies with the DWP and not the pensioner, from Porthcawl in South Wales.
After nearly five months of back and forth, the company admitted it was their mistake after an employee misunderstood Robert's retirement income during his phone application.
A letter to Mr Vincent from the DWP, seen by The Sun, said: “You asked us why we were using the figure of £934.84 per year instead of the actual figure of £9,034.84 as your earned income.
“Unfortunately this was due to our error. The person you spoke to on the phone on April 4, 2017 misheard you and thought you had said that the occupational pension you received from Derbyshire County Council was £934, 84 per year.”
The DWP also acknowledged that Mr Vincent had noticed this discrepancy and brought it to their attention several times between 2017 and 2023, but no action was taken.
“I would like to apologize for our mistakes in your case,” it added.
The DWP said it will no longer ask Mr Vincent to pay back the money, and has also refunded him the £976 he has paid back since September.
Mr Vincent said: 'It's great news that the DWP has finally admitted it made mistakes.
“Many thanks to The Sun for all your help in getting this resolved.”
He is now demanding compensation for the suffering this has caused him.
Mr Vincent is one of thousands of benefit claimants who have been asked to pay back money wrongly received in recent years – in some cases due to errors by the DWP.
The latest government figures show that around £330 million in pension credits have been overpaid in the period to October 2022.
A DWP spokesperson said: “We have fully refunded the money already recovered to Mr Vincent and apologize for the error in handling this matter.”
What should I do if I'm asked to pay back money and it wasn't my fault?
If the DWP believes you have received too much benefit, they will write you a letter describing what has happened and how much you owe.
If you do not agree with the decision, you can ask him to reassess your case.
In your response, ask how she reached her decision, and also ask for a “mandatory reconsideration.”
You will then receive another letter with the outcome of the reconsideration. If you still disagree, you can appeal the decision to a court.
You can also file a complaint about the customer service you receive from the department.
Suppose you file a formal complaint and ask to initiate the complaints procedure, in writing or by telephone.
A complaint resolution manager should review your case and provide a final response.
It's a good idea to keep a record of all correspondence when you file for benefits, in case you run into any problems later.
For example, if an error has occurred and you discover it, make sure you report it to the appropriate department and keep a record of this correspondence.
If you are not satisfied with the response to your complaint, you can write to the independent investigator for alternative advice, but you must do this within six months of receiving the response.
Read our full guide on how to complain like a pro here.
Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.
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