The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a six-week warning for all 1.4 million Carer's Allowance claimants, launching a new call for evidence to gather views on the benefit and how it could change. The consultation, which runs until 18 August 2026, aims to modernise the earnings limit, reduce the impact of the current cliff edge, improve predictability for carers with varying incomes, and better support those balancing work and caring responsibilities.
Reforms to Address Outdated System
The DWP is exploring changes to the earnings limit to make it more flexible, addressing the cliff edge where carers lose their entire allowance if they earn over a certain amount. The call for evidence also seeks to improve support for carers with fluctuating incomes and those who combine work with caring. Carers, people with care needs, and carers' organisations are encouraged to participate.
Labour Party Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: "Unpaid carers are the backbone of our communities — quietly providing support that makes an enormous difference to the lives of those they love. They deserve a system and level of support that properly reflects the contribution they make, and we are determined to deliver that. This call for evidence is our commitment to going further — and to making sure carers’ voices shape every step of what comes next."
Carers UK and Carers Trust Welcome Review
Emily Holzhausen CBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK, said: "We need to see further reform to Carer’s Allowance because the current system is outdated and no longer reflects the realities of caring today. This includes inflexible rules around the earnings limit which are hard to navigate for carers with fluctuating earnings and can dissuade some from claiming what they are entitled to altogether. We welcome the government’s call to gather further evidence around this and its acknowledgement that Carer’s Allowance, which was first introduced 50 years ago, should be a priority for change to better support those who contribute so much to society. Caring is not a one-size-fits-all experience, and so it’s important that the government hears from as many people as possible on this topic in the next six weeks."
Kirsty McHugh, CEO of Carers Trust, said: "This major review of Carer’s Allowance is something we, carers, and the 130+ local carer services in our network have long called for. It has been clear for some time that Carer’s Allowance needs to be modernised and brought into the twenty-first century. Society, work and caring have all been thoroughly transformed since Carer’s Allowance was first introduced in 1976, so it’s incredibly encouraging that the Government has recognised this and committed to creating a system that not only reflects these changes but also gives carers the support they really need. We look forward to working with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure the voices of carers and the services dedicated to them are at the heart of any reforms to Carer’s Allowance. We want this review to be a real step change in the way carers are supported – paving the way for a fairer world for carers."
How to Have Your Say
The call for evidence is open to all carers, their organisations, and anyone with experience of caring. Submissions can be made online via the DWP website until the deadline on 18 August 2026. The DWP encourages broad participation to ensure the reforms reflect the diverse experiences of carers across the UK.
