Over-Payments

Over-payments may happen if...

• your worker's information about your family size and income is not right
• Social Services made a mistake
• you did not notify your worker about a change in your family situation
• you received other income
• you failed to report income
• you had to ask for additional emergency assistance
• Social Services paid your security deposit
  
• a payment was made to your landlord for damages or unpaid rent

Over-payments must be paid back. Even if Social Services makes a mistake and pays you too much, you still have to pay back the amount as an over-payment. Social Services takes the amount off your future payments.

Social Services must notify you in writing of the amount and the reasons for the over-payment. Over-payments may be collected from your income tax refund.

Social Services will take off $50 per month per household until the money is paid back. You can ask to pay more per month to pay back the amount owing in a shorter period of time. If you owe money because Social Services made a mistake you can ask to have the amount reduced to $25 per month.

Social Services may also choose to file a certificate with the Court of King's Bench. Once filed, the certificate has the same effect as a judgment against you. Legal ways to collect an unpaid judgment include garnisheeing money (for example from a bank account), or asking the Sheriff to seize and sell some of your property.

You can appeal a decision about an over-payment.

If you intentionally provide false information to Social Services to get money you are not entitled to receive, you can be charged with fraud. You must still pay back the over-payment.