An unpaid carer has described the "horrendous" ordeal of being threatened with prison by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over a Carer's Allowance overpayment, ultimately leading to her surrendering a £16,000 inheritance from her mother.
The Carer's Court Ordeal
Vivienne Groom, 61, was accused by the government of unlawfully claiming nearly £17,000 in Carer's Allowance while she balanced a minimum wage supermarket job with being the sole carer for her dying mother. The DWP informed her she could be sent to prison.
"I was absolutely petrified. I was in such a mess. I wouldn't have coped," Ms Groom said. Despite a judge commenting that she was "living an ordinary lifestyle, just doing your best," Ms Groom, unable to afford legal representation, felt compelled to plead guilty.
She was ultimately spared a jail sentence but was ordered to hand over the entire £16,000 inheritance left to her by her mother.
Systemic Failures and Government Response
The case emerged alongside a year-long government review, the findings of which were published on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. The review, carried out by Liz Sayce, concluded that many carers felt they were "treated as criminals, with resulting feelings of fear and shame."
The investigation found that the DWP's approach to treating earnings, especially in averaging and allowable expenses, is inconsistent and unclear. This lack of clarity meant that carers were often unable to comply with rules they did not properly understand.
In response to the Sayce report, the Government has announced that 185,000 unpaid carers in England and Wales, who were in receipt of the allowance between 2015 and September 2025, will have their overpayments reviewed.
Political Reaction and the Path Forward
Labour Party Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated: "This will be welcome news for thousands of carers failed by the system under the previous government. We will right these wrongs, carers give so much to their families and to their local communities, and they deserve our support."
Adding to the criticism, Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey said: "The Government and Conservative ministers should apologise to the tens of thousands of carers who were treated so disgracefully in the last parliament, having ignored all the evidence that this was a failing, broken system, out of step with the law."
This widespread review signals a significant shift in addressing the long-standing issues within the Carer's Allowance system, offering a potential reprieve for thousands who have faced similar distress.
