Written questions

Carer's Allowance: Overpayments

Commons · Question 103486 · Tabled 6 Jan 2026 · Department for Work and Pensions · Official record

Answered 26 Jan 2026

Question

Asked by Andrew Snowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the risk that unpaid carers may have acquired criminal convictions as a result of DWP system failures rather than deliberate fraud.

Answer

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms, 26 Jan 2026

The Government inherited a system where some busy carers, already struggling under a huge weight of caring responsibilities, have found themselves with unexpected debts due to earnings-related overpayments of Carer’s Allowance which they were asked to pay...