DR UK submits evidence to review of carers allowance

Government figures suggest that nearly 100,000 unpaid carers across the UK are still repaying carer's allowance debts because their earnings were over the carer's allowance limit. In some cases, carers were overpaid by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) without being notified, leaving them up to £20,000 in debt.

Under current rules, unpaid carers who look after someone for more than 35 hours a week can claim the allowance as long as they earn less than £151 a week. However, if carers are found to go over this limit by just a few pence, they need to pay back 100% of the benefit for that week - which is currently £81.90. In April, the earnings limit will rise from £151 to £196 per week.

The Review, headed by Liz Sayce OBE, is tasked to examine how the crisis happened, how changes can be made to minimise the risks to carers, and how the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can best support those affected. The Review is expected to report its findings and recommendations to ministers, this summer.

Disability Rights UK was invited to attend a roundtable event, chaired by Liz Sayce, alongside unpaid carers and various carers organisations. DR UK has prepared a written submission, which has now been submitted, and includes criticisms of DWP policy and practice, saying that “CA overpayments are squarely the responsibility and fault of the DWP and the solution to them lies with it.”  Noting that “it is unfair and unreasonable to put the burden on hard pressed carers to either solve the problem or face the burden of large debt repayments.”

DR UKs proposals include, cancelling all debts incurred by unpaid carers, and increasing carers allowance to the equivalent of up to 35 hours at the national living wage. DR UK also recommends that there should be NO earnings limit, as it traps people in a cycle of poverty, and that there should be significant reform of the DWP and its processes, insisting on “Improving information sharing and processes within DWP sections.”

Dan White policy and campaigns officer at DR UK and an unpaid carer said: “Although this review is welcome and we are glad to be inputting into it, it is obvious that the fault lies with DWP and its errors and incompetence in relation to carers allowance, leading to enormous distress for carers and significant and unfair debt. 

“DWP failed to notify some recipients that they had been overpaid, for years. When carers were asked for repayment retrospectively, the debt owed was often in the tens of thousands of pounds, which to a carer struggling to survive, is grotesque.”

“In our written submission we show the devastating impact this has and is having on carers across the country and we make it clear what the solutions are, solutions that any responsible and empathetic government would take on board and action immediately.”