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Inhumane DWP Debt Demands Hit Vulnerable Carers
30 Jan
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.
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.
Charities have highlighted the financial stress and anxiety faced by these carers, urging for full debt waivers. The DWP's administrative failures and inflexible rules have left many feeling undervalued and penalized. The government is expected to begin a reassessment process in early 2026, with a call for a more compassionate approach towards those providing vital care.
