DWP Plans Carer's Allowance Overhaul Amid Overpayment Scandal

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in the UK is set to overhaul its handling of Carer's Allowance, responding to widespread criticism over its failure to adequately investigate alerts related to earnings breaches. Previously, the DWP only checked 50% of these alerts, leading to significant overpayments for many carers, some facing debts as high as £20,000. The new policy mandates the investigation of 100% of alerts and the hiring of additional staff to manage the workload. This change aims to prevent further financial distress for carers who may unknowingly exceed the earnings limit of £196 a week. However, campaigners warn that as the backlog of alerts is processed, many more carers may face repayment demands due to previously unaddressed overpayments. Critics have labeled the situation a scandal, with calls for existing debts to be written off as the DWP implements these necessary reforms.