The reassessment programme covers about 200,000 cases linked to unpaid carers who were given overpayments of the benefit. Charities say some people affected have already waited years for a resolution, with concerns that the current timetable could leave many waiting far longer.
Campaigners Raise Concerns Over Pace of Review Process
The DWP is working through cases involving claimants who received carer’s allowance payments incorrectly. The review aims to determine which people may be entitled to refunds or have their overpayment debts reduced.
According to Carers UK, only 1.5% of the projected caseload had been processed at the time of its statement. The organisation said that, at the current rate, the reassessment exercise could take 27 years to complete, although the DWP has said it remains on track to finish the work within the three years previously announced.
Emily Holzhausen, director of policy and public affairs at Carers UK, said the charity was concerned about the speed of progress. She called for a clear plan to increase the pace of the reassessment so carers affected by incorrect overpayments could receive a resolution.
Many unpaid carers have faced uncertainty over whether their cases will be reviewed and when decisions will be made. Carers UK said some people waiting for refunds or the removal of overpayment debts had already been waiting for several years, with some waiting for more than a decade.
The charity said that a lengthy reassessment process could add to the concerns faced by people who are unsure about their financial position. It said carers should not be left waiting years for an outcome linked to overpayments that were not caused by them.
DWP defends its approach to handling reassessments
The reassessment process follows criticism of the way the carer’s allowance overpayment issue was handled. Earlier this year, MPs questioned senior officials at the Department for Work and Pensions over the administration of the scheme.
According to the Birmingham Mail, Sir Peter Schofield, the permanent secretary at the DWP, faced questions from the work and pensions committee about the department’s response to the issue. Committee chair Debbie Abrahams described the situation as a major failure of culture and competence within the department during the session.
The DWP said it was taking steps to support the reassessment exercise by recruiting and training new decision makers. A spokesperson said the department had a rolling programme in place to build resources while ensuring cases were reviewed properly.
The department also said it had plans to increase staffing levels gradually during the course of the exercise. The DWP has maintained that the reassessment will be completed within the previously announced three-year period. The review remains focused on identifying cases where claimants may have been affected by incorrect carer’s allowance overpayments. For those waiting for decisions, the timing of individual reassessments continues to be a central concern.
