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Sample Letter

DWP overpayment waiver request (sole name)

Use this letter when asking the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) if they will waive (write off) a benefit overpayment. A benefit overpayment may also include a Universal Credit Advance payment if you are no longer claiming Universal Credit.

A debt may be waived where it can be demonstrated that by waiving the debt your circumstances will improve. You will need to provide evidence to support your waiver request. This should include the following information.

  • A list of all your debts and steps taken to manage the debt with those creditors.
  • Full details of your income and expenditure.
  • Bank statements for the past 6 months.

You will also need to provide evidence to support a waiver request on welfare or health grounds. This could include:

  • demonstrating exactly how recovery of the debt would have an excessive negative impact on the welfare of you and your family; and
  • evidence that your ill health is being made worse or caused by financial hardship in the form of a letter from a medical professional. For example, a GP, consultant, psychiatric nurse, support worker or welfare advisor.

You can choose to send a letter in your own name or in joint names. You may have a debt in joint names, or want to write to the DWP together because you have worked out a joint budget.

  • Fill in your contact details, account number and any extra information you want to include in the grey shaded areas.
  • Today’s date will be added automatically.
  • Sign each letter and enclose a copy of your budget if needed.

Letter in joint names

You can choose to send a letter in your own name or in joint names. You may have a debt in joint names, or want to write to your creditors together because you have worked out a joint budget.

Change to joint version
You need to include the organisation name.
Name of the organisation you are writing toInclude the name of the person or creditor you are writing to.
You need to include their address.
Their address line 1Make sure you include the full address for the person or organisation. Don't forget the post code.
Their address line 2
Their address line 3
You need to include their postcode.
Their postcodeDon't forget their postcode.
You need to include your address.
Your address line 1Make sure you include your full address.
Your address line 2
Your address line 3
You need to include your postcode.
Your postcodeDon't forget your postcode.

8th December 2023

Date
Dear Sir/Madam
Account No:
This field is required.
Your account or reference numberYou will find your account or reference number on any paperwork from the DWP.
I am writing to tell you that I am getting advice from National Debtline on dealing with my financial situation.
I enclose a copy of my budget which gives details of my present financial circumstances. As you can see, my outgoings are more than my income and I am experiencing extreme financial hardship.
I am aware that Chapter 8 of the benefit overpayment recovery guide states that:
‘Waivers are granted in exceptional circumstances where it can be clearly demonstrated that the debtors’ circumstances will only improve by waiver of the debt.’
I would be very grateful if you would consider waiving the outstanding debt.
My circumstances are so bad that I cannot realistically maintain payments of any kind. Please take the following special information into account when making your decision.
This field is required.
Include a paragraph outlining the special circumstances you have that you want the DWP to take into accountsuch as illness, disability, age or bereavement. Include evidence of any medical condition if possible, or supporting evidence from a doctor, social worker, mental health professional and so on. Also include information about why your financial situation is unlikely to improve.
As you can see my situation is very unlikely to improve in the future and my continued high debt level may have a serious effect on my physical and mental wellbeing.
I would be grateful if you would seriously consider my request to waiver the debt.
I look forward to hearing from you.
(Please note, all further correspondence should be addressed to me. National Debtline are a self-help agency and are not acting as my representative).
Yours faithfully
You need to include your name(s).
Include your full name