The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) continues to accumulate debts against unpaid carers, even after being notified to stop overpayments. Chris Farrell, a former full-time unpaid carer aged 65, found himself burdened with £1,300 in debts following the death of his husband, despite repeatedly asking the DWP to cease payments.
Farrell received Carer’s Allowance of £86.45 per week for four years while caring for his late husband. After his husband passed away, he made multiple efforts to inform the DWP to halt payments, but the overpayments persisted. According to a report by The Guardian and figures from Carers UK, some carers have accrued debts as high as £2,000 over many months, even after multiple calls to cancel benefits.
Farrell described the experience as an added hardship, saying, “Losing my husband was devastating, but having to repeatedly ask the DWP to stop payments was an ongoing ordeal. It reminded me daily of my caregiving role ending, which was a painful transition.”
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Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, emphasized the emotional and financial strain caused by these errors. “Carers often receive money they are not entitled to, with no clear guidance on recovery timelines or final debt amounts. This uncertainty compounds their stress and makes future financial planning difficult,” she explained.
A DWP spokesperson expressed regret over the situation, stating, “We are very sorry to hear about Mr. Farrell’s experience. Once a carer reports a change in circumstances correctly, their responsibilities are considered fulfilled, and any overpayments identified as official errors are written off.” The department reaffirmed its commitment to simplifying and improving Carer’s Allowance to better support carers like Mr. Farrell.