DWP Reviews Only 1% of Carer Debt Cases

The Department for Work and Pensions has reviewed approximately 1.04% of an estimated 230,900 cases in the first five months of a £75m scheme to repay carers who incurred unlawful benefit debts. Launched in April, the reassessment exercise addresses a crisis stemming from 2020 guidance changes that prevented carers with irregular wages from averaging their incomes, resulting in wrongful overpayment demands.

To date, 100 carers have received full repayments totaling £40,000, with an average individual payment of £342. Critics warn that the current pace of review could extend the process to 40 years. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey stated that while the scandal did not start under the current administration, the failure to resolve it is becoming a scandal of its own.

The agency maintains it is on track to complete the exercise by March 2029 and plans to increase project staffing to 250 by next April, citing a priority for accuracy over speed. However, disability rights expert Liz Sayce and Carers UK chief executive Helen Walker have criticized the slow start, noting that the vast majority of affected carers still face lengthy waits and ongoing financial hardship.