Many carers hit with demands to repay more than £20,000 despite reforms

Data shows 32,559 earnings-related overpayments in 2025-26 after DWP's measures to end carer's allowance scandal

Scores of unpaid carers were hit with demands to repay sums of more than 20,000 and hundreds more put at risk of prosecution last year as a result of official failures in what appear to be continuing problems with carer's allowance.

New figures showed carers were asked to repay 33m in 2025-26 as a result of 32,559 earnings-related overpayments, despite the introduction of measures over a year ago designed specifically to prevent carers falling foul of the system.