IHTM31212 - Assessing: unpaying assessments

Once an assessment has been issued and paid, it cannot be withdrawn. It can only be removed from the records by “unpaying” it.

Most caseworkers do not have authorisation to unpay assessments. Generally, only managers are given authority.

If you have authorisation, select the case record on the Case Index window. Select Cancel Payment from the Assessments menu. This will bring up a new window.

Highlight the assessment you want to cancel and click on the Unpay button. Confirm that you want to do so.

Unpaying significantly upsets the Office’s accounting records and creates a lot of work for Accounts Section. You must therefore only unpay in the following circumstances

• When an assessment has been marked paid on COMPASS in genuine error.
• When a payment turns out to be an invalid/dishonoured cheque and we wish the charge/assessment to remain unpaid.

You must not use the “unpay” facility

• for unpaying assessments in order to move assets from IOP to NIOP.
• for unpaying assessments where a valid payment has been received, receipted and marked as paid on COMPASS.

Refer any requests to “unpay” outside these parameters to the Finance Team (Nottingham) or Cashiers (Edinburgh & Belfast).