If individuals earn more than the £151 weekly pay limit, even as marginally as 1p more, they must refund the entire week's carer's allowance
Government officials have come under fire for employing "threatening and cruel" tactics against unpaid carers, with warnings of steeper fines if they contest "vindictive" benefit penalties. Reports suggested that thousands of carers for the disabled or sick have been hit with hefty repayments after being pursued by the Department for Work and Pensions for "honest mistakes" that could have been identified much earlier.
The former council worker confessed that this ordeal had "destroyed" her confidence, making her feel powerless against the DWP. "I can't afford this bill but I can't afford to argue with them because if I do I've made these mistakes already, chances are I've made other mistakes," she expressed. "It is the most hostile bit of the state for so many people. This just confirms their wariness of the DWP as the bit of government that is the least sympathetic, most faceless and most heartless."
A multitude of carers have unwittingly broken this rule and been entirely unaware until several years later, when notified by the Department for Work and Pensions , despite current technology allowing the government to prevent such breaches far sooner. The DWP's attempt to discourage people from making appeals has been branded as "]quite troubling and quite unsavoury" by Jolyon Maugham, director of the Good Law Project, a group backing unpaid carers. He added: "Parliament has set up an appellant system to enable appeals against demands that people repay carer's allowance. For the DWP to take steps to discourage people from using this very important safeguard is itself quite troubling.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
DWP to give two weeks' extra payments to thousands on four benefitsA huge 'managed migration' to Universal Credit is underway, which will see six legacy benefits phased out
Read more »
DWP makes change to free prescriptions for benefit claimantsThe change will impact those on benefits who claim free prescriptions
Read more »
DWP to give EXTRA two weeks of payments to people on certain benefitsNetmums is the UK's biggest parenting website offering local info, expert parenting advice, chat, competitions, recipes and friendly support
Read more »
‘Lifeline’ Household Support Fund under review by DWP – meaning it COULD be extendedNetmums is the UK's biggest parenting website offering local info, expert parenting advice, chat, competitions, recipes and friendly support
Read more »
DWP sparks confusion over the upcoming £299 payment dates with texts to claimantsNetmums is the UK's biggest parenting website offering local info, expert parenting advice, chat, competitions, recipes and friendly support
Read more »
DWP claimants able to claim free NHS prescriptions - full list of those eligableA wide range of people can claim free NHS prescriptions
Read more »