Iain Duncan Smith urges ministers to pause carers’ fines

Former work and pensions secretary says government should investigate responsibility for overpayments

The government should stop pursuing carers with huge fines until it investigates whether it is to blame for overpaying them, according to a former Conservative work and pensions secretary.

Iain Duncan Smith called on the department to stop hounding people for the repayments and investigate its own responsibility for the errors, some of which have left unpaid carers with criminal records and deep in debt.