Together with Carers UK and 106 other organisations across the country, The ME Association is calling for an immediate halt to Carer’s Allowance overpayments.
Carer’s Allowance overpayment debts have surged by 71% in recent years, unfairly burdening unpaid carers due to a flawed and confusing benefits system.
These overpayments have had a devastating impact on thousands of unpaid carers, saddling many with crippling debts, experiencing financial hardship, anxiety and ill-health as a result.
While the Government launched an independent review last October, we are deeply concerned that new overpayment debts continue to be issued. DWP official figures show that the total number of outstanding overpayments increased by over 9,000 between May 2024 and February 2025, to a staggering 143,922.
This scandal needs to stop. That’s why we’re calling for Carer’s Allowance overpayments to be halted until the Government fixes the flaws in an unfair benefits system.
Read our open letter to the Secretary for State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall here.
We need your help to raise awareness of this crucial campaign.
About Carers Allowance Overpayments
Carer’s Allowance, paid at £81.90 per week for those who spend at least 35 hours a week in unpaid caring roles, has an earnings limit of £151 per week. Carers who go over the limit, even by just a few pence, must pay back 100% of their Carer’s Allowance for that week.
In many cases, the DWP has not taken swift action – causing overpayments to build up into large sums. This has a devastating effect on carers, with debts impacting entire households, including children and disabled family members.
How to support the campaign
- Write to your MP (see template letter below)
- Share the campaign on social media and encourage family and friends to get involved
- Tell Carers UK about your experience of overpayments here
- Find out more on Carers UK’s website and read their report detailing carers’ experiences of overpayments
Write to MP – template letter
Carers UK says: Please feel free to adapt the below letter to include local insights, to help demonstrate this is an issue impacting carers in their constituency.
SUBJECT LINE: ‘We need your support! Campaign for an immediate halt to Carer's Allowance overpayments’
Dear [ENTER NAME OF MP],
First sentence for constituents:
I am writing to raise urgent concerns about the growing issue of Carer’s Allowance overpayments, which are unfairly impacting many unpaid carers in [ENTER NAME OF CONSTITUENCY].
First sentence for Organisations (local support groups etc):
I am writing on behalf of [INSERT NAME OF YOUR ORGANISATION] to raise our urgent concerns about the growing issue of Carer’s Allowance overpayments, which are unfairly impacting many unpaid carers in [ENTER NAME OF CONSTITUENCY]
Template letter continued:
Last December, the National Audit Office confirmed that the total amount of outstanding Carer’s Allowance overpayment debt rose to £251.7 million in 2023-24, increasing from £150.2 million in 2018-19. This is because of a 71% increase in overpayment cases, rising from 80,000 to 137,000, over the same period.
Many of these overpayments occur due to flaws in the Department for Work and Pension's system, particularly relating to confusing earnings rules and delays in DWP communication with affected carers. This often leaves carers unaware of overpayments until they have built up into substantial debts.
Thousands of unpaid carers, who already face significant financial and emotional pressures, have been asked to repay large sums of money, forcing many into severe hardship. Some have even had their future Carer’s Allowance stopped or reduced to recover these debts.
While the Government launched an independent review last October, we are deeply concerned new overpayment debts continue to be issued. DWP official figures show that the total number of outstanding overpayments increased by over 9,000 between May 2024 and February 2025, to a staggering 143,922.
As a result, Carers UK, The ME Association and 106 other organisations have written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, calling for urgent action and an immediate halt to new overpayment debts until the review concludes and its recommendations are implemented.
I urge you to support this campaign and ask that you personally write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, calling for an immediate suspension of overpayment demands. Carers should not continue to be punished for system failures that are beyond their control.
Thank you for your consideration. I hope I can count on your support at this vital time.
[Your Name & Organisation as appropriate]
Media Coverage:
- Guardian: Ministers urged to act as thousands more hit by UK carer’s allowance debts | 21 March, 2025
- Birmingham Live: Thousands of people on one benefit wake up to ‘scandalous' letter from DWP | 20 March, 2025
- Liverpool Echo: DWP is writing to 150,000 people demanding money back | 20 March, 2025
- National Health Executive: Mounting carer debts continue amid concern | 20 March, 2025
- Guardian: Councils and NHS could face millions in extra costs due to disability benefit cuts | 24 March, 2025
- Disability Policy Centre: Welfare reforms likely to deliver no significant savings in “all pain and no gain” scenario, according to new analysis. | 24 March, 2025