A woman who was claiming help from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says she received an unexpected letter telling her that not only had had benefits been stopped – but she would have to pay the DWP £1,500. Emma Martin, 53, is a carer for her daughter, Mia, 27, who has autism, epilepsy and learning disabilities.
Emma also works part-time, and claimed Carer’s Allowance from the DWP – but she told BBC Breakfast she was shocked to get a letter from the DWP saying she had gone over the earnings threshold – and had to pay the money back.
Carer’s Allowance in the UK is £76.75 per week. To be eligible, you need to be providing at least 35 hours of care per week for someone who receives certain disability benefits. Additionally, there are income and employment restrictions, so earning more than £139 per week (after certain deductions) may disqualify you.
If your earnings go over the limit you lose your entire entitlement to Carer’s Allowance, unlike benefits such as Universal Credit where the amount is just reduced.
Carers are not always alerted when they go over the claim threshold – meaning they can be paid the benefit for weeks or months before suddenly being told it has been stopped, and they must pay back what they have been given.
Emma said: “Juggling work and full-time caring is hard enough in itself without having to worry about whether we’re earning a few pence over and we’re going to be penalised for it. It’s a complex system that is broken and it’s not fit for us, it’s not fit for purpose. We have enough to deal with without having this on top of everything else as well.
“I didn’t have any idea. I just got a letter through the post saying I owe around £1,500, from the DWP. That was really it. There was no support system in place and obviously at the time, you panic, and it’s something that is really hard to get your head around. There is no one you can speak to about it. It’s unfair and it’s unreasonable.”
She added: “Obviously I had to pay it back. I borrowed money and with hindsight, I probably would have said to them that I can’t afford to pay it back.”
The DWP has announced a review into Carer’s Allowance overpayments following a series of reports of people left owing thousands of pounds – and sometimes even with a criminal record for benefit fraud.
The Mirror reported that Helen Grater was told to pay back almost £6,000 after she took on an extra shift at Sainsbury’s while caring for her seriously unwell partner. Full-time carer and dad-of-three George Henderson was forced to sell his home – or face jail – after he was prosecuted because he was overpaid Carer’s Allowance.
Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall 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.“
Carers Trust chief executive, Kirsty McHugh, said: “A review of Carer’s Allowance overpayments is hugely welcome. Too many people have had their lives ruined by being pursued for huge sums of money simply because they made an honest mistake. These fines need to be written off and the systems allowing them to build up must be overhauled.“