COUNCIL chiefs in Blackburn and Darwen are bidding to recover more than £500,000 in overpaid housing benefit.
Blackburn with Darwen Council has calculated the amount of money which was overpaid to tenants and landlords during the 1997-98 financial year.
The overpayments arose where benefit had been paid out to a tenant or landlord and it was subsequently found that their entitlement had reduced or ended.
The latest figures have revealed that council tenants in the borough were overpaid housing benefit of £333,801 during the financial year of 1997-98.The amount had risen by more than £12,000 during the 12 months.
Council chiefs have also written off more than £83,000 which they said was "unrecoverable".
Council bosses are also bidding to recover more than £51,000 overpaid to landlords - a reduction of £10,000 from 12 months ago.
Other statistics showed that private tenants were overpaid by more than £174,000. The figure was more than £207,000 a year ago.
The rights, advice and entitlements sub committee are due to discuss the overpayment of benefits tonight.
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