Source: http://qa.muftisays.com/?4215
Question ID: #4215
 
Question: benefits overpayment
Assalamoalikum Dear Scholars,

Few years ago i use to get benefits from the government (working tax credits and child tax credit).
The tax credits allowance is based on the yearly household income.

For one particular year i informed the Inland Revenue about my yearly income for that year and based on the figure i had provided ,a final decision was made by the Inland Revenue and i received benefits(working and child tax credit).

However i had made an error on the yearly income, ie i had declared a lower yearly income to the Inland Revenue than what it actually was.
Thus, i once again contacted Inland Revenue and informed them of the correct (higher)amount of household income.
(as my household income was higher than what i had declared initially,my benefits would be lower and it would mean that i would have to repay the excess benefits that i had received).

However the Inland Revenue amended the records but never asked me to repay the excess money that i had received as benefits.
If i am not asked by the Inland Revenue to pay back this overpayment what can i do with the overpaid money ?

Can i give it to charity ?
What type of charity can i give it as ?
What intention do i make ?

JAZAKALLAH KHAIR.
 
 
Answered by: Ulamaa ID 12 (United Kingdom)
Date: 13/03/2013 08:32am

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Al Jawaab Wa Billahit-Tawfeeq

Respected questioner,

Please phone/contact Inland Revenue and explain the situation and ask what should be done.



And Allah knows best


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Maulana Khalil Ibn Elyas Laher



London, UK
 
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