Unpaid carers forced to repay DWP over £250m

The Government requires unpaid carers to pay back more than £250m after thousands were unknowingly overpaid their allowance.

(c) Dominik Lange/Unsplash

(c) Dominik Lange/Unsplash

The Government requires unpaid carers to pay back more than £250m after thousands were unknowingly overpaid their allowance.

Paul Maynard MP from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) last week confirmed that 134,800 people had a total outstanding Carers Allowance debt of £251m.

Unpaid carers who care for someone for more than 35 hours a week are entitled to receive the allowance.

However, they are only eligible if their earnings fall under the £151-a-week earnings limit.

Responding to a parliamentary question from Labour MP Sir Stephen Timms, Mr Maynard MP said that women make up most Carer's Allowance claims.

There are currently 42,800 (32%) males, 91,900 (68%) females and 100 (less than 1%) not identified, with an outstanding Carers Allowance debt.

As of November 2023, there were over 991,000 people in receipt of Carers Allowance, nearly three quarters of whom are female.

The minister for disabled people, Mims Davies, recently told MPs research into how unpaid carers are impacted when they are forced to repay benefit overpayments will be published ‘shortly'.

Sewage, rats and insect infestations widespread in hospitals, says UNISON

Sewage, rats and insect infestations widespread in hospitals, says UNISON

By Lee Peart 16 June 2026

UNISON head of health Helga Pile has called for Government investment to bring the NHS up to modern standards after a survey revealed leaking sewage, rats an...

Avoiding revenue delays through automation

By Lee Peart 16 June 2026

Robin Beetge, financial automation advisor, RecVue explains how healthcare providers can reduce revenue delays through process automation

Resident doctors call off strikes following last minute offer

By Lee Peart 15 June 2026

A four-day strike by resident doctors has been cancelled this week following a last-minute offer by the Government.


Popular articles by Lee Peart