DWP crackdown branded 'outrageous' as claimants hit with 'legal proceedings'

Rishi Sunak has come under pressure over the Department for Work and Pensions "persecuting" carers who broke earnings rules. David Blunkett and Alan Johnson join Iain Duncan Smith in dismay at the DWP ’s treatment of benefit recipients’ minor mistakes.

Tens of thousands of unpaid carers looking after disabled, frail or ill relatives are being forced to repay huge sums to the government and threatened with criminal prosecution after unwittingly breaking rules, according to reports this week.

Blunkett said: “It’s a no-brainer that the government should take an urgent look at why the system is hitting those on the very margins and who are providing much-needed support to loved ones.” Johnson added: "The DWP need to ascertain if overpayments have been made before making any decisions on repayment."

READ MORE Met Office says dramatic weather shift to hit next week after UK mini-heatwave

“I doubt if threats of legal proceedings are appropriate in this situation," he added. Caroline Dinenage, the chair of the carers all-party parliamentary group and a Conservative MP, said: “The numbers of those falling foul of carer’s allowance overpayment suggests that the issue needs the government’s attention.

"This is especially true for cases where DWP does not inform individuals promptly of the situation, allowing months (and sometimes years) of overpayment to accrue.” Tory MP Nigel Mills said: “By definition, carers on this allowance can’t earn large amounts of money, so there’s no real way for them to pay this back.

"Some of them are living on less than those on state benefits. It’s a really tight situation for people.” And Alison McGovern, a Labour MP, said: “It is outrageous that the Tories have failed to use real-time information to stop overpayment. That’s a waste of money and very stressful for the carers concerned.

"The government need to urgently investigate why this has happened and to outline what steps they are taking to rectify it – including publishing their report on this issue in full.”