The Duty to Report Changes: Overpayments, Hinchy, and the Lords Judgment

This article considers the House of Lords judgment of Hinchy and the impact it is likely to have on the regime that regulates the recovery of overpayments of benefits. Among other things, the discussion focuses on the Lords decision to overturn the Court of Appeal analysis of claimants' responsibilities and Public Law principles dealing with the way decisions are deemed to be made by ministers as a means of facilitating accountability whilst avoiding the full practical consequences of imputing knowledge.