The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued average repayments of £342 to 100 carers in the first five months of its Carer’s Allowance redress scheme, but only 1.04 per cent of an estimated 230,900 cases have been reviewed, according to the first official update covering 13 April 2026 to 13 September 2026.
During that period, the DWP reviewed and cleared 2,400 cases. It changed the original decision on 200 cases and reduced debt owed to the DWP for 100 carers, with an average reduction of £251. The scheme, announced to address earnings-related overpayments, is set to last three years and will cost an estimated £75 million.
Slow progress sparks criticism from campaigners
Campaigners described the pace as “deeply disappointing” and warned that at current rates it would take around 40 years to complete the exercise. Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “After years of waiting for justice, only a small number of carers have had their cases reviewed five months into this exercise. The vast majority still face a lengthy and uncertain wait for resolution, all whilst enduring the ongoing financial hardship caused by these delays.”
She added: “There must be a clear and realistic plan to accelerate progress. With 230,900 identified cases still awaiting review, these figures raise serious questions about whether DWP is on track to deliver within the funding period.”
Political pressure mounts on the prime minister
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, who has long campaigned on unpaid carer injustices, said: “The carer’s allowance scandal didn’t start on his watch, but the failure to put things right is fast becoming a scandal of its own. The prime minister needs to step in and speed things up now.”
The government published the report of the Independent (Sayce) Review into overpayments of Carer’s Allowance linked to earnings, along with its response to the recommendations, on 25 November 2025. The next edition of the Sayce review management information on the reassessment exercise is scheduled for publication in Spring 2027.
DWP defends progress and outlines plans
Sayce told the Guardian: “Today’s statistics show that reassessments have started slowly and it’s vital that DWP shares both a robust plan for speeding them up, so people trust they will not have prolonged waits for justice.”
A DWP spokesperson said: “We are on track to complete the carer’s allowance reassessment exercise within the three years previously announced. To support the exercise we have been recruiting and training new decision makers in a rolling programme, ensuring we take the time to assess cases with the accuracy that carers deserve. We have plans in place to increase resource at a steady pace over the course of the exercise.”
At the end of the week commencing 7 September 2026, there were 230,900 identified cases awaiting review and/or clearance, meaning the vast majority of affected carers remain in limbo as the DWP continues to scale up its operations.
