For half a decade, a mother from Liverpool has been relentlessly pursued by the Department for Work and Pensions over a debt she does not owe, a harrowing ordeal stemming from a simple case of sharing the same name as another woman.
A Five-Year Ordeal of Demands and Distress
Sarah McKenzie, a resident of Belle Vale, has been receiving letters from the DWP's debt division for five years, demanding a payment of £5,444.19. The sole reason for this bureaucratic nightmare is that she shares her name with another individual. Sarah, who is a full-time carer for her 23-year-old autistic son, Adam, explained the core of the issue: "Our national insurance numbers are the only difference, it's a case of mistaken identity."
She described the relentless cycle of anxiety the situation has caused. "For five years I've been getting these letters demanding money," Sarah said. "It has this other woman's national insurance number on the letters. Every time I call the DWP to complain they confirm I don't owe anything and I ask them to stop the letters."
The Impact on Mental Health and Family Life
The stress of the false debt claims has taken a severe toll on Sarah's mental health, compounding the challenges she already faces as a single mother caring for a disabled child. She revealed that the initial demand letter left her feeling suicidal. "When I got the first letter I was suicidal," she confessed. "I looked at the amount it said I owed on the letter and I thought 'what the hell, how am I going to pay this'. I'm a single mum on benefits, I don't have that kind of money, I was crying."
The problem briefly subsided after her initial complaints, but it resurfaced with a vengeance when she moved house approximately three years ago, with the demands starting all over again. The timing could not be worse, as her son's health has declined. "It's bringing an immense stress," Sarah stated. "I have a disabled son with autism who is really poorly at the moment, he is under the hospital awaiting surgery and this added stress is not something I need right now."
DWP Response and Final Resolution
After years of distress and repeated complaints, the DWP has finally taken action to resolve the administrative error. A spokesperson for the department said: "We have now corrected Ms McKenzie's records, and she will no longer receive these letters. We apologise for the inconvenience caused."
While the apology and correction bring a close to the formal demands, the episode highlights the profound impact that bureaucratic errors can have on the lives of vulnerable individuals, causing years of unnecessary anxiety and mental anguish.
