Work and Pensions Secretary MP has announced today (16 October) that the
Government will launch an independent review into Carer's
Allowance overpayments.
Led by Liz Sayce OBE, the former Disability Rights UK Chief
Executive, now visiting professor in practice at LSE, the review
will investigate the reasons why overpayments have occurred for
some carers.
The review will focus on how and why overpayments were accrued,
operational changes to minimise future overpayment risk and how
the DWP can best support those with overpayments. A full term of
reference will be published in due course.
It follows concerns over increasing reports of carers unknowingly
accruing large amounts of overpayments of Carer's Allowance,
signalling the Government's commitment to learn lessons and get
to grips with the issues.
This review has been commissioned by the Secretary of State to
get an independent view of the situation and its causes, and to
recommend potential solutions for ministers to consider.
Work and Pensions Secretary, MP, said:
“I have been a lifelong champion of family carers and know
many have been pushed to breaking point looking after the people
they love.
“This is not okay. We're determined to learn lessons and put
this right.
“It's brilliant that Liz Sayce has agreed to lead this with
all the experience she brings.”
Former Chief Executive of Disability Rights UK, Liz
Sayce, said:
“I'm delighted to be leading this important review which will
make a difference to carers who offer such tremendous support to
their loved ones every day.
“My work aims to get to the bottom of how overpayments have
occurred and how to prevent people who devote such time and care
to others facing these difficulties in future.”
Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir MP, said:
“Carers, whom we owe so much for the hard work they do,
deserve to be supported, not punished.
“In the last Parliament, the Work and Pensions Select
Committee found that people in receipt of Carer's Allowance were
accruing large overpayments – often inadvertently.
“We need to get to the bottom of what has been going wrong,
and to put it right. This review will shed some light on why
overpayments have occurred and is evidence of this Government's
commitment to make positive change and support all those who
care.”
The Government is also working on long-term reform of the social
care system to improve support for both carers and those being
cared for.
This includes the longer-term goal of creating a sustainable
National Care Service and working collaboratively with unpaid
carers themselves, sector partners, and carer organisations as
part of that process.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Further details, including the timeline, of the review will
be announced in due course.
- More information on Carer's Allowance including full
eligibility criteria can be found here: Carer's Allowance: How it works
- GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- To be eligible for Carer's Allowance, a carer must earn £151
a week or less after allowable deductions. If they exceed this
earnings limit, they have a duty to inform DWP so that their
entitlement can be reviewed.
