Pensioner's payback - for 83 years! A PENSIONER forced to refund an overpayment by Northumberland County Council will be paying back his debt until he is 157 years old. The 74-year-old, who has not been named, has been ordered to pay back the £25,000 he was overpaid in his pension at the rate of just £25 each month. But it will take 83 years to pay back the money and the pensioner will be 157 before his debt is cleared. The mistake was uncovered three years ago and the unique pay-back system was arranged after other attempts to recover the money failed. Councillors have now called for an investigation and Cramlington North councillor Wayne Daley said it is a ridiculous situation. “There is no evidence that this man has made a fraudulent claim or been involved in any wrongdoing whatsoever,” he said. “It seems to be a mistake by the council and although £25,000 it is a lot of money in my view the debt should just be cleared. As quoted in the News Post Leader. online. Surly common sense should be applied and the pensioner should have this debt written off, It can't be right that a pensioner should have to sit and worry about this or have money took off his pension for the rest of his life. Whats your oponion?