Just looking for some advice please, I thought they could only claim money back up to 6 years, same as us with bank charges etc, whereas this is from 11 years ago without hearing from them until now, and 19 years ago that the overpayment was made, any advice appreciated please.Many thanks. moonriver.he Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has six years to take action through the courts to recover benefit overpayments and social fund loans. This time starts running from the date of the final decision made on the overpayment and from when the social fund loan was due to be paid.