Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Review of Carer’s Allowance Overpayments

Monday 8 December 2025 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Anna Dixon raised concerns about the implementation of recommendations to address overpayments of Carer's Allowance affecting around 185,000 unpaid family carers.
  • Tim Farron inquired about measures to ensure carers in Cumbria can undertake flexible seasonal work without losing Carer's Allowance benefits.
  • Steve Darling asked for assurances that the Government would stop pursuing carers over overpayments and inquired about an apology for the issue.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Anna Dixon Lab Shipley
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Over the last decade, around 185,000 unpaid family carers have been pursued by the Department for Work and Pensions to return overpayments in their Carer’s Allowance. Many working carers faced bills running into thousands of pounds through no fault of their own.

Question

I am concerned about the steps being taken to implement the recommendations of the review of carer’s allowance overpayments, published on 25 November 2025. Around 185,000 unpaid family carers have been pursued by DWP to return overpayments in their Carer’s Allowance through no fault of their own. Many working carers faced bills running into thousands of pounds. Does the Minister share my hope that trust might now be rebuilt between the state and the near 6 million unpaid family carers?

Answer from The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)

My hon. Friend is a great campaigner for carers on this issue and others. She is absolutely right: this is a very serious problem that was ignored for 10 years, despite there being quite a lot of publicity about it. I hope, as she says, that trust will now be rebuilt as we fix these problems in the coming months.

Answered
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Q2 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Social Care Benefits & Welfare
Context

Cumbria has a higher number of unpaid carers due to the older population and rural isolation, exacerbated by seasonal and variable work. Carers need flexibility without fear of losing support.

Question

Cumbria has a much higher than average number of unpaid carers largely due to its older demographic and rural isolation issues, compounded by seasonal and variable work patterns. What measures is the Minister taking to ensure that carers can take flexible seasonal work without fear of losing all their support?

Answer from The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)

The hon. Gentleman will know that the carer’s allowance has an earnings threshold, which we have increased very significantly—the biggest increase in the earnings threshold that there has ever been. We are also looking, in the longer term, at introducing a taper to carer’s allowance, instead of the cliff-edge earnings threshold that is still there at the moment. That will not be a quick fix, but once it is in place, I think it will help with the concern he raises.

Answered
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Q3 Steve Darling Lib Dem Torbay
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The Sayce review findings have been accepted. The issue is ensuring that carers are not pursued for genuine overpayments and seeking apologies.

Question

The Liberal Democrats welcome the fact that the Government have accepted the findings of the Sayce review into carer’s allowance overpayments, but what assurances can the Minister give that the Government will stop hounding carers about overpayments? Will the Government also apologise?

Answer from The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)

I am very sorry about what happened to many carers. For example, only about half of the alerts that came into the Department from HMRC were checked, so overpayments that the Department had been notified of carried on for months and months. Of course, genuine overpayments do still need recovery and that work will continue. If people run into difficulties, it is always worth talking to the DWP debt management service.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Apology

How: I Am Very Sorry

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