Carer convicted over benefit error worth 30p a week fights to clear his name

George Henderson had to sell his home to repay nearly 20,000, years after ticking wrong box on carer's allowance form

A carer who says he was dragged through the courts" and had to sell his home to pay back almost 20,000 in benefit overpayments is fighting to clear his name after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) acknowledged he made an innocent mistake.

George Henderson, 64, said he made a gain of just 30p a week while claiming carer's allowance for his son John, who has learning difficulties and is addicted to heroin. He now costs the Treasury 1,000 a month more in benefits, having become homeless and too unwell to work.