Grieving daughter is hounded for 7p

FUMING . . . Lynne Harrison and the bill for 7p

A GRIEVING woman has been chased for alleged pension overpayments to her late mother — to the tune of 7p.

Lynne Harrison, from Hollinwood, was disgusted to receive a letter from the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) demanding back the tiny sum, which she doesn’t even owe.

She says the demand has brought back the upset of her mother’s death and is for an insignificant amount that would have cost more in postage to send.

Her mother Joyce Buckley (78) fell ill before Christmas and was diagnosed with a slight chest infection.

Lynne, of Montgomery Street, said: “Doctors thought she was fine but then she had to be rushed into hospital on Christmas Day morning. She had pneumonia and died within 24 hours.

“Then we had hassle from the social to get this 7p back.. When I got the letter I couldn’t believe it. I was just fuming with it. It costs more than 7p to send the letter.

“I just thought it was pathetic. We are going through enough with mum dying and don’t need the extra hassle.”

The letter states: “Although the overpayment was innocently caused we have a duty to protect public funds, which includes recovering amounts paid after death. Please refund the £0.07 as soon as you can.”

The letter incorrectly spells Oldham “Oldaham” and calls Mrs Buckley “they”. Lynne said there had initially been an overpayment of £14.90 and she made a mistake in paying back £14.20.

She received a letter asking for 70p back and made a journey into town to repay the money. But then came another letter asking for the 7p. I think it might be a mistake and it should be 70p which I have already paid back,” she said. I made a mistake on the original one but I paid it all and I think they have now made a cock-up. They stick in the letter that it’s all public funds, which is fair enough, but when they threaten people over pennies it’s just daft.”

A DWP spokesman said: “We try to recover all overpayments of taxpayers’ money and send out an automated letter. In this case the matter has been resolved.”