Many unpaid carers across the UK are being forced to repay thousands of pounds because they accidentally earned just a little more than the Carer’s Allowance limit. In one shocking case, a woman was asked to pay back nearly £10,000 for going over the limit by only £1.92 a week. These strict rules and delayed checks by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are leaving families trapped in debt and stress.
Earning Just a Bit More Cost One Family Thousands
Oksana Shahar is a full-time carer for her son and also works two part-time jobs to make ends meet. Over a five-year period, she slightly earned more than the allowed amount under Carer’s Allowance rules. Some weeks, she went over by as little as 38p. On average, she exceeded the earnings limit by just £1.92 a week. But despite this small amount, the DWP sent her a demand letter for nearly £10,000.
Her husband, Guy, told The Guardian that the letter felt “surreal and outrageous.” He said they thought it must be a mistake. “In any sort of ethical world, this would not happen,” he said.
The Letter That Shocked the Family
The letter from the DWP stated:
“Important. You have been paid more carer’s allowance than you are entitled to. You now need to pay this money back.”
The Shahars were shocked and confused. They had no idea they were over the limit, as they were never warned. “They never alerted us – not even once,” said Guy. He believes the system is unfair and designed to fail carers by not warning them earlier, then demanding huge repayments years later.
Long-Term Impact on Mental Health and Finances
Oksana said the stress and shock of receiving the letter left her feeling deeply let down. “It traps families into long-term debt, anxiety and mental health issues,” she said. The couple believes the system causes more harm than help, especially for those already under pressure from caring duties.
Carers UK Responds to the Crisis
Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said she is saddened and concerned that new cases like the Shahars’ are still happening. She called the system unfair and inflexible, saying it proves why there needs to be a better way than the current “cliff-edge” rule—where going just a little over the limit results in losing everything.
This case is just one of many where unpaid carers are penalised for tiny mistakes. These people are doing one of the hardest jobs—caring for loved ones—yet are left facing massive debt through no fault of their own. The current rules are too strict, and the way the DWP handles these cases shows a lack of care and fairness. Many are calling for change so carers don’t have to suffer for doing their best.
FAQs
Why are UK carers receiving large repayment bills?
Carers are being told to repay thousands of pounds because they slightly breached the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit. Even small overpayments, like £1.92 a week, are triggering large bills from the DWP.
Did the DWP alert carers about the overpayments earlier?
No. Many carers, including Oksana Shahar, said they were not warned. The overpayments were allowed to continue for years, and the DWP only acted much later.
What is the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit?
Carers can only earn a set amount each week to remain eligible for Carer’s Allowance. If they earn more—even slightly—they can lose the benefit and may have to repay it.
What are campaigners asking the government to do?
Carers UK and others are urging the government to create a fairer system and cancel debts caused by tiny breaches. They say the current system is too harsh and traps carers in debt.
How is this affecting carers’ mental health?
The threat of huge bills is causing anxiety, stress, and long-term mental health problems among carers, who are already under pressure while looking after loved ones.
