How much debt are carers facing due to DWP overpayments?

Tens of thousands of unpaid carers are facing substantial debts, with some amounts reaching up to £20,000.

Why are carers being asked to repay carer's allowance?

Carers are being asked to repay allowance because they inadvertently exceeded the Department for Work and Pensions' strict weekly earnings threshold, sometimes without their knowledge.

What is the government doing about carer's allowance overpayments?

The government has written off debts for some carers and is expected to begin a reassessment process in early 2026, with a focus on a more compassionate approach.

Home / Crime and Justice / Inhumane DWP Debt Demands Hit Vulnerable Carers

Inhumane DWP Debt Demands Hit Vulnerable Carers

30 Jan

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Summary

Tens of thousands owe up to £20,000 due to carer's allowance overpayments.
Carers were unaware they breached earnings limits, sometimes for years.
Thousands still await reassessment, with debt collected from disabled child benefits.

Inhumane DWP Debt Demands Hit Vulnerable Carers

Tens of thousands of individuals are struggling with substantial debts, some reaching up to £20,000, stemming from overpayments of carer's allowance. These individuals, who balance caregiving with part-time work, fell foul of the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) stringent earnings threshold. Helen Stapleton, a healthcare assistant caring for her disabled daughter, was ordered to repay £3,000 after exceeding the £123 weekly limit, partly due to a COVID bonus.

Many carers were unaware they had breached the earnings threshold, sometimes for several years, and were only notified of the significant debt much later. While the DWP has agreed to write off debts for 26,000 carers following a report, thousands more are still awaiting a reassessment of their cases. For some, like Stapleton, repayments are being deducted from their disabled child's benefits.