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Carer's Allowance Scandal: DWP Reassesses 100s of Thousands
25 Nov
Summary
- Hundreds of thousands of carers were wrongly prosecuted for benefit fraud.
- An independent review found honest mistakes, not wilful rule-breaking.
- Millions in overpayments were wrongly demanded from vulnerable carers.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is to reassess hundreds of thousands of carer's allowance cases amid a growing scandal. An independent review, due for publication, has found that many prosecutions were initiated due to honest mistakes caused by unclear rules and administrative failures within the DWP, rather than wilful deception.
Individuals like Vivienne Groom, who was prosecuted for claiming £17,000 while caring for her mother and working part-time, have spoken out about the devastating impact. She was threatened with prison and ordered to repay her mother's entire inheritance. Davina Ware and Guy Shahar also shared their distressing experiences of being pursued for alleged overpayments.
These cases highlight a systemic issue where vulnerable unpaid carers, juggling demanding responsibilities with low-wage work, were subjected to harsh legal action. The review's findings are expected to have significant consequences for ongoing criminal prosecutions and tribunal hearings, potentially leading to apologies, reimbursements, and the quashing of convictions.
