Review of unpaid carer debts announced after damning report

"Thousands of unpaid carers will have their cases reassessed after an official review found they had been left with huge debts caused by systemic failures. Former charity boss Liz Sayce found confusing guidance on Carer's Allowance - given to those providing 35 hours of unpaid care a week - had left thousands with fines and surprise bills, sometimes running into thousands of pounds. The Guardian newspaper uncovered hundreds of carers claiming Carer's Allowance had been convicted of benefit fraud, while others claimed they were harassed for money by officials."

"Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said the government will "put right" any failures impacting carers. "We inherited this mess from the previous government, but we've listened to carers, commissioned an independent review, and are now making good for those affected," McFadden said. "Rebuilding trust isn't about warm words - it's about action, accountability, and making sure our support works for the people who need it most.""

"The Sayce review found between 2015 and the summer of 2025 the official Carer's Allowance guidance was "unclear" and "ill-defined" - preventing many carers from properly reporting their earnings. Unpaid carers who look after loved ones for at least 35 hours a week can claim 83.30 a week in Carer's Allowance, as long as their weekly earnings stay under 196. But under a so-called "cliff-edge" earnings rule, anyone who exceeds this limit by as little as 1p must repay that entire week's carer's allowance. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) also levies a 50 penalty on anyone who fails to properly declare a change in their earnings."

Thousands of unpaid carers will have their cases reassessed after an independent review found systemic failures left many with large debts and surprise bills. Confusing and ill-defined guidance on Carer's Allowance prevented proper reporting of variable earnings and led to fines, penalties and some fraud convictions. The Sayce review covered 2015 to summer 2025 and highlighted a cliff-edge earnings rule and a mandatory penalty for undeclared changes. Carers providing at least 35 hours weekly can claim 83.30 a week if earnings stay under 196, but exceeding the limit by any amount can trigger full repayment. The government has pledged reassessments and remedial action.

Read at www.bbc.com