DWP take woman inheritance over supermarket job

[Oliver Hardy]

Vivienne Groom was prosecuted for failing to declare her minimum wage Co-op job while also caring for her mum.

Mrs Groom said she was told by a social worker she did not have to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about the job.

She said she initially agreed a payment plan with the DWP at £30 per month to cover the overpayments, which she received between 2014 and 2019.

However, when the government discovered she stood to inherit £16,000 following the death of her mum, it decided to seize it. The only way for the DWP to recover the money was to prosecute Mrs Groom, so she was charged with benefit fraud offences.

The DWP has faced criticism for failing to prevent overpayments, despite having the ability to do so,

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-6...

[Oliver Hardy]

Previous said:

As a principle, I'm okay with people having to pay back benefits they aren't entitled to.

But the story here is why did DWP continue paying benefits for 5 years?

And as above, I'd love to see those breaking the rules in higher positions of power more readily held to account.

They also agreed a repayment plan.