THE liver transplant patient who fell victim to a tax credit bungle is being given £50 in compensation.

HM Revenue and Customs says the money acknowledges the "particularly bad effect" on Norman Power of its mistaken demand for almost £9,000 in repayments of child and working tax credits.

But the former pub landlord from Tadcaster today branded the amount offered "derisory and pathetic".

He said he and his wife, Lesley, had also been told they still had to repay more than £300 in "overpaid" child tax credit last autumn - even though the Revenue accepted the overpayment was its fault.

The Press has reported previously how Norman, 56, who underwent a liver transplant and four other operations in less than two years, claimed he had been let down by the welfare state as he convalesced.

The Revenue originally claimed the Powers had been overpaid almost £9,000 in child tax and working tax credits for the period 2003-2006, but last week it told Selby MP John Grogan - who has intervened on their behalf - that it had been wrong. Customer support manager Anne Cadman said they only owed a small amount in overpaid child tax credit, relating to a few months after their daughter left college.

But Mrs Power insisted she had told the Revenue last May that her daughter would be leaving.

Now the couple have received a letter from the same manager, saying there were no notes on the system to say the Powers had contacted the Revenue about their daughter before last December.

But it said: "I accept it seems we have failed to use the information you gave us when we should have, and have no reason to doubt what you have said in your letter.

"We try our best to make sure we are paying the right money at all times and, although sometimes we do make mistakes, it is unacceptable for us to do so repeatedly.

"Although the overpayment was our fault, we expect you to repay it because you carried on receiving Child Tax Credit payments until November, 2005. We do not consider it was reasonable for you to think your payments were correct, as Laura had already left college."

Mr Power said he was pleased the Revenue had acknowledged its errors, but added: "I think it's a derisory amount - it's pathetic."

Updated: 09:50 Wednesday, May 24, 2006