Another embarrassing botch-up for the Ministry of Social Development - it has apologised for asking a young couple to pay back nearly $2000 for a mistake that wasn't theirs.

The ministry over-paid the couple accommodation supplements to the tune of $1800, then asked them to pay it back.

Since Newstalk ZB highlighted the issue with the ministry, the family have been told they won't have to pay back any more money, and will be reimbursed the sums they've paid so far.

Mother of two Jennifer Josling said she was shocked and didn't know what to do when she logged into her account and saw how much was owing.

"I was not sure what that was. I had no idea, that was just a complete surprise and I was thinking 'how am I going to tell my husband that we owe this much money, because that's a ridiculous amount of money."

The ministry admitted on Tuesday it's been under-paying and over-paying beneficiaries' accommodation supplements since 1993 but said this incident was not part of that issue.

Auckland Action Against Poverty's Alastair Russell said he wants the ministry to check it hasn't asked the same from anyone else, and they would like to hear from anyone who believe they have been asked to pay for the ministry's mistakes.

He said people have no obligation to pay back the money and should lodge a 'Review of Decision'.