Universal credit overpayment - please help.

Hi folks, really need your collective help here.

Started claiming UC back in Feb 21, Let me stress here all information requested by them was provided in full, and claim was accepted.

I receive an email couple of days ago informing me they have made an error and my receipt of industrial injuries benefit should have been included in their deductions. Now they have been aware of this benefit payment to me since the beginning but they have goofed up.

There was no negotiation or comms from them in any way, simply a notification a few days ago informing this was to happen, yet this is month 3 of nil payment from them.

They inform the overpayment is £12000 (12K) and they are taking it back and if I close the UC payment down they will pursue other means to clawback.

Given this is wholly on them can they do this?

Another issue I've just noticed is they are including carers allowance in their figures. I have an underlying entitlement to CA but I don't receive a payment due to another benefit cancelling it out.

How they hell can they get away with any of this behaviour?

Help.

"Do you accept that you have been overpaid?"

Possibly however I need further information eg it appears they are including careers allowance into this mix. I do not receive carers I only have an underlying entitlement to this benefit. How can they clawback this element? If this CA is to be disregarded I don't see how I own them a penny as CA is greater than UC.

Yes, that is correct.

The last sentence to post ending 1577 should read CA is greater than IIDB.

There is a time disconnect between me replying and the post appearing.