Carers UK was pleased to meet with two Ministers, Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Social Security and Disability and Andrew Western MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transformation to share our new report on Carer's Allowance overpayments. Ministers also heard first-hand from unpaid carers with experience of overpayments. 

This meeting also coincided with a Private Notice Question in the House of Lords, where Peers from all sides of the House spoke about how important it was that this issue is resolved. 

Ministers from the DWP have commented in the media that they are moving quickly to understand exactly what has gone wrong, so that they can set out their plan to put things right.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK said: "We are extremely grateful to the Ministers for giving us the time to meet them, present our evidence and to hear the first hand experiences of unpaid carers with overpayments.  We also want to thank the carers for sharing their stories and taking the time to come with us.  

“Last year there were 34,000 unpaid carers with Carer’s Allowance overpayments. The last Government promised us that this would be resolved in 2019 with new systems. We need this to be turned into reality quickly for carers who need to see a difference.  We hope that Government will bring out their plans soon.  

“As well as seeing processes improved, we need to see the earnings limit rise to 21 hours - the equivalent to the National Living Wage (NLW), legislation to peg this to the NLW for the future, an end to the cliff edge of earnings and a review of Carer's Allowance, to ensure it is fully supporting carers in a variety of different caring situations. 

“Carers have waited long enough for change. Now we need to see clear and decisive action to improve carers' lives.”