Carer's Allowance Review - Government admits failings and promises change
Carer’s Allowance overpayments scandal
The Independent Review of Carer’s Allowance overpayments, the Sayce Review, was published yesterday, 25th November, with the Government sharing its response to the report.
It’s a landmark moment for unpaid carers, as the report acknowledging the gravity of system failures within the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and there is an unprecedented commitment from Government to put right the wrongs of the last 10 years.
What went wrong?
A complex system around earning when receiving the benefit, and mistakes made by the DWP itself meant that carers who had unwittingly received even a few pence over what they were due, were hit which huge fines and penalties, with hundreds convicted of benefits fraud.
The situation has been likened to the Post Office Scandal.
We are part of the Carers Poverty Coalition, led by Carers UK and Carers Trust, which has been working to highlight this injustice and calling for change. Carers in Surrey have been affected, and some contributed their experiences to the Coalition’s evidence.
The Guardian newspaper was also instrumental in highlighting the story.
What’s going to happen?
The Review has made 40 recommendations, 37 of which will be made.
The most significant recommendation that will be taken forward is that carers who have been ordered to repay Carer’s Allowance will have their cases reassessed. DWP will reimburse those who were wrongly fined.
The Review found that DWP staff were using incorrect Guidance when assessing averaging earnings and overpayments. (And had been doing so since 2015.)
Advice for carers affected
The advice right now is that carers should not contact the DWP. DWP will be in touch with carers once the reassessment process is up and running.
Looking ahead
The Government has also committed to introduce new policies and processes to ensure that in future there will be accurate, transparent and clear information for carers, and that internal DWP processes will be changed so that carers do not incur overpayments as a result of poor practice.
Read more
Find links below to the full review, government response and The Guardian’s coverage:
- The Independent Review’s report
- The Government’s response
- The Guardian’s coverage
- Carers UK’s press release