UC Debt mess

Hello there, I tried my best to keep this question short and to the point and would really appreciate any advice.

I've had a very messy UC application that has been rife with maladministration since day one.

I have only just passed my ESA test after a year of being messed around.

Before this I was essentially lured into getting a debt I could not afford to pay back - an overpayment by being told everything was up to date and all was well until all of a sudden it wasn't.

I have obviously been contesting this bill since I got it with asking for mandatory reconsiderations.

They have lowered overpayment once but I know none of it was right and the whole situation caused immense stress and ultimately led to giving up my rented accommodation so I could try to save to pay it back.

I am fuming that I have been both over and underpaid but the overpayment came much sooner and if I hadn't passed my ESA I imagine I'd be asking a very different question right now but anyway;

Instead of wiping my debt after passing the esa test, they instead put the backed-up underpayment all in my bank. I have no idea why they did this instead of just wiping the debt, but I would like to clear that debt as soon as possible, to do this it seems I would personally have to call debt collection and wire through the funds.

* My question is this:
Is this just some trap so that when I pay them back the debt I unfairly owe, would this just mean I'm admitting guilt and would no longer be able to contest the overpayment anymore or would I still be able to contest it even after I've already paid it back?

Any advice would be deeply appreciated, thank you.

Hi Gordon thanks for the reply,

I have been looking for legal aid though not having much luck other than citizens advice and they gave me similar advice, sadly the list they gave me for the area weren't interested mostly due to not focusing on DWP issues.

I will likely just make the repayment regardless at this rate.

Thanks again for your time

David.