UK Universal Credit Overpayment Mandatory Reconsideration Letter
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Your Situation
Tell us which UK nation administers your UC, how much DWP says you were overpaid, the date on the decision letter, and what you think went wrong.
This letter will cite
Social Security Act 1998 s.9 + Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 1999 reg.3(1) and reg.5 + Social Security Administration Act 1992 s.71ZB + Welfare Reform Act 2012 + Universal Credit Regulations 2013
Your letter will request a Mandatory Reconsideration under s.9 SSA 1998 within the one-calendar-month deadline at reg.3(1) of the D&A Regs 1999. It explains that although s.71ZB SSAA 1992 makes UC overpayments recoverable regardless of fault, that is a procedural recovery basis — not a finding that the underlying figure is correct. It preserves your right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal under TCEA 2007 s.11, where about 1 in 4 UC overpayment decisions are reduced or quashed.
Some benefits (ADP, Scottish Child Payment, Carer Support Payment) are devolved to Social Security Scotland — but Universal Credit is NOT. Send the MR to DWP, even if you live in Scotland.
The one-month MR time limit runs from the date PRINTED on the decision letter under reg.3(1) — not the date you received it.
If 'fraud allegation' is ticked, stop and ring Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848) or your local Law Centre before sending — fraud allegations engage criminal and civil penalty regimes beyond a standard MR.
Standard deduction is capped at 25% of the standard allowance. On hardship grounds it can be reduced to 15% or 5% under the Affordable Repayment Initiative (2024).