Rose Jones, a young carer, was compelled to repay over £2,000 because of incorrect guidance regarding the carer’s allowance from her jobcentre work coach. At just 22, and after serving as her disabled mother’s carer since age eight, Jones was devastated to discover she owed this money upon completion of a government-funded employment program. This case reflects broader systemic issues within the DWP, where over 144,000 carers face similar repayment demands due to policy failures. The government has acknowledged the public outcry and is reviewing the carer’s allowance to rectify these injustices.
I was shocked when the letter arrived it came on my 20th birthday and I really didn't know what to do. I thought it was a mistake.
At least 144,000 UK carers are repaying more than 250m in earnings-related carer's allowance overpayments caused by what MPs said were human mistakes.
The government last year vowed to reform aspects of carer's allowance after widespread public outrage. It commissioned an independent review of carer's allowance overpayments.
This case is the latest in a stream of carer's allowance injustices highlighted by a year-long Guardian investigation, involving a young carer.
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