The DWP has revealed that is working with the BBC-administered Digital Switchover Help Scheme to rectify a recent error with switchover letters.
Designed to make it simpler for people to transfer to digital TV, the Help Scheme is free to eligible people who are 75 or over, registered blind or partially sighted, have lived in a care home for six months or more, currently get (or could get) disability living allowance, attendance or constant attendance allowance, or mobility supplement.
Most people will be asked to contribute £40 towards the help but the service is free for eligible people who are also on income related benefits.
Culture secretary Ben Bradshaw has already apologised for two batches of incorrect letters that were recently issued by the scheme.
The first batch was sent to approximately 65,000 people across both north and mid Wales telling them that they would receive the help for free when they actually did not meet the eligibility criteria.
This situation occurred due to a data processing error at the DWP, which supplies all names and addresses of eligible people to the BBC.
The second batch of incorrect letters was sent to a small number of people in various switchover regions wrongly informing them to pay £40 for help that they should actually receive for free.
These individuals were recipients of the income-related side of the recently introduced Employment and Support Allowance.
The DWP has since said in a statement that it is working hard to identify the exact numbers and names of those affected.
"The department is helping the BBC to contact people who would be eligible for help in making the switchover to a digital platform," it explained.
"It has become clear that we have provided the BBC, in error, with the names and addresses of some people who are not eligible for such help.
"We are now working with the BBC to confirm which individuals are not eligible for assistance and what we should do to put right our mistake."


