MPs call for carer’s allowance review as numbers overpaid soars

The calls came as new official figures showed that the number of unpaid carers incurring fines after inadvertently falling foul of earnings rules soared to more than 34,000 last year, with more than 1,000 individuals hit with sums of between £5,000 and £20,000.

Campaigners said this meant one in five carer’s allowance claimants who worked part-time on top of their caring duties were overpaid in 2023-24, landing many with huge debts they would spend years paying off.

The figures, slipped out last Friday afternoon by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), suggest ministers have failed to get a grip on overpayments despite promising five years ago to tackle the issue.

MPs repeatedly brought up the issue of overpayments at a Westminster Hall debate on Monday evening, reflecting growing concerns – from parliament to daytime TV – over the injustices forced on unpaid carers.

Vicky Foxcroft, the shadow disability minister, said: “The government needs to urgently investigate the overpayments issue and outline what steps it is taking to ensure it does not happen in the future.”

MPs are due to question the minister for disabled people, Mims Davies, on the government’s failure to tackle carer’s allowance overpayments when the Commons work and pensions select committee meets on Wednesday morning.