Carers are being threatened with prosecution over minor breaches of
UK benefit rules. The Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) is forcing tens of thousands of people looking after relatives to repay huge sums after buildup of erroneous overpayments. People who claim the £81.90-a-week carer’s allowance for looking after loved ones while working part-timeare being forced to pay back money that have been erroneously overpaid to them, in some cases running to more than £20,000, or risk going to
prison. Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: “Most unpaid carers struggle financially, and for many it takes a toll on their mental and physical health too. The truth is, unpaid family carers underpin our entire care sector, and help to keep the NHS on its feet too. The government should value and support carers, not treat them like criminals.” READ MORE UK faces three week mini-heatwave within days as 'good sunshine' hits It comes days after the DWP was slammed after it took a woman's £16,000 inheritance because she didn't declare her minimum wage
Job at the Co-op. Vivienne Groom, 59, was prosecuted for not declaring her income at the supermarket while caring for her mum. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) then seized £16,000 left to the Co-op worker by her mother because she was overpaid her carer's allowance. In 2022-23, 26,700 carers were asked to repay sums relating to earnings breaches. More than 800 were repaying sums between £5,000 and £20,000, and 36 repaying over £20,000. Emily Holzhausen, the director of policy and public affairs at the charity Carers UK, said: “The whole DWP system surrounding the carer’s allowance earnings limit needs sorting out urgently, with the level of the earnings limit increased and processes modernised, digitised and reformed.” The DWP said: “We carefully balance our duty to the taxpayer to recover overpayments, and safeguards are in place to manage repayments fairly. Claimants have a responsibility to ensure they are entitled to benefits and to inform the DWP of any changes in their circumstances that could impact their award.”