Petition · past parliament · Department for Work and Pensions
Restore confidence in the benefit overpayment recovery waiver (write-off) system
Closed
408 signatures
What the petition asks
The Secretary of State needs to restore confidence in the overpayment recovery waiver system by ensuring everyone affected by overpayments are made aware of the existence of waivers and how to seek one, and monitoring decision making to ensure that waivers are applied correctly.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has the discretion to waive recovery of a benefit overpayment "where recovery is detrimental to the health or welfare of the debtor or a member of their family".
Benefit overpayment recovery information evidences that by monetary value, only 0.006% of Universal Credit Official Error (DWP mistake) overpayments were written off (waivered) by DWP using the guidance contained within the benefit overpayment recovery guide (Chapter 8 – Write-off and waivers).
Benefit overpayment recovery information evidences that by monetary value, only 0.006% of Universal Credit Official Error (DWP mistake) overpayments were written off (waivered) by DWP using the guidance contained within the benefit overpayment recovery guide (Chapter 8 – Write-off and waivers).
Timeline
| 5 Jan 2022 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
408
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Work and Pensions
Opened
5 Jan 2022
Closed
5 Jul 2022
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.