Around 2,400 cases reviewed out of an estimated 233,300: that is the progress made in the first five months of a programme concerning Carer’s Allowance, the UK benefit for carers. According to figures reported by the Guardian, 100 people have received full refunds and another 100 have had their debts reduced. Carers UK has criticised the pace of the work, but the department responsible for benefits says it remains on track to finish within its promised timeframe.
In an article published on 14 October 2026, the newspaper reports that the programme’s first official update shows 1.04% of the cases covered by the review have been examined. The programme began in April 2026, is due to run for three years and has a £75 million budget. It is being carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which oversees benefits and pensions.
Refunds and debt reductions are different outcomes
The figures reported by the Guardian show that full refunds paid to 100 carers totalled £40,000. A further 100 people had debts arising from benefit overpayments reduced by a combined £20,000. Having a case reviewed therefore does not automatically mean receiving money or having a debt cancelled: the number of cases examined is considerably higher than the reported number of refunds and debt adjustments.
The review concerns how carers’ irregular earnings were taken into account. According to the newspaper, DWP unlawfully restricted the scope for averaging those earnings over a year. For people whose income varied from month to month, the way it was calculated mattered when determining their entitlement to the benefit and any resulting overpayment.
The Guardian cites findings from Liz Sayce’s review, which traced the problem to a change in DWP guidance in 2020. The change was made without informing carers or seeking legal or benefits policy advice.
Carers UK calls for faster progress as DWP stands by its deadline
Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, criticised the pace so far and called on the department to set out a clear, realistic plan to speed up the work. For carers awaiting a decision, the issue is not only when their case will be examined, but also whether the review will result in a refund or a reduction in the amount they are being asked to repay.
A DWP spokesperson quoted by the newspaper nevertheless said the department remained on track to complete the programme within three years. The spokesperson explained that decision-makers were being recruited and trained gradually. According to the Guardian, DWP plans to increase the project’s workforce to 250 by April 2027.
The stated deadline for completing the review is March 2029. That remains a DWP commitment, rather than an achieved outcome. The first figures show the scale of the work completed so far; the department maintains that expanding its team will allow it to meet the timetable.
