DWP continues paying carer’s allowance after death, former carer says
7 reported1 unconfirmed
A former unpaid carer, Chris Farrell, 65, said the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) continued to pay him carer’s allowance for six months after his husband’s death, potentially creating debts of more than £1,300. Farrell, who claimed the £86.45 weekly benefit for four years, said he repeatedly tried to stop the payments but the DWP did not act. The DWP said on Friday it would write off Farrell’s overpayment as official error after The Guardian contacted officials. The Guardian reported it is aware of five other cases where carers said they could not stop benefit payments despite informing the DWP they were no longer eligible. Cases identified by the charity Carers UK include a carer who accumulated over £2,000 in unwanted payments since their mother entered a care home 10 months ago, and another who was overpaid more than £2,650 after reporting a new work contract. The DWP said it intended to make further changes to modernise carer’s allowance.
What’s reported
Chris Farrell, 65, a former unpaid carer, said the DWP continued to pay him carer’s allowance for six months after his husband’s death, potentially landing him with debts of more than £1,300.
Farrell claimed carer’s allowance of £86.45 a week for four years while providing full-time care for his late husband.
The DWP said on Friday it would write off Farrell’s overpayment as official error after The Guardian approached officials.
The Guardian is aware of five other cases where carers said they were unable to stop carer benefit payments despite informing the DWP.
Cases identified by Carers UK include a carer who accumulated over £2,000 of unwanted carer’s allowance since their mother went into a care home 10 months ago, and a carer overpaid more than £2,650 after reporting a new work contract.
An official review by disability rights expert Liz Sayce found DWP backlogs and record-keeping issues led to carers being sent overpayment notices because reported changes were ignored, deleted, or lost.
The DWP said it intended to make further changes to modernise carer’s allowance.
Open questions
The article does not specify when the DWP will set out plans to refund carers penalised by record management failures, or the estimated cost of repaying affected carers.
Key figures
Chris Farrell, former unpaid carer, 65, podiatrist living in Gloucestershire
Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK
Liz Sayce, disability rights expert who conducted an official review of carer’s allowance
DWP spokesperson (unnamed)
Sources: The Guardian
