Asked by:
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with the Department for Work and Pensions under the agency agreement for the delivery of Carer's Allowance in Scotland to identify the (a) number of carers affected by overpayment debt and (b) levels of debt accumulated.
Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
The Scottish Government has urged the DWP to carefully consider people’s individual circumstances before any recovery of Carer’s Allowance overpayments from carers. Discussions are ongoing with the DWP as to potential arrangements for the recovery of any Carer’s Allowance overpayments for carers in Scotland that remain once case transfer is complete and the current Agency Agreement comes to an end.
Asked by:
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it will undertake with (a) the Department for Work and Pensions and (b) Social Security Scotland during the roll-out of, and process of case transfer to, Carer Support Payment, to increase the level of help and advice available to unpaid carers in Scotland who may have been left in debt due to overpayments of Carer's Allowance.
Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
The Scottish Government has urged the DWP to carefully consider people’s individual circumstances before any recovery of Carer’s Allowance overpayments from carers. It is our established policy that no-one should be placed into hardship as a result of overpayment recovery. Social Security Scotland have in place processes to prevent and identify overpayments as quickly as possible, and will consider an individual’s financial and personal circumstances as far as they are known before recovery is attempted. Social Security Scotland will discuss the best way forward for individuals and anyone affected will be able to seek support and advice before agreeing any repayment plan. Any deductions are set at manageable levels and individuals can seek a redetermination and appeal where a new determination has been made. Discussions are ongoing with the DWP as to potential arrangements for the recovery of any Carer’s Allowance overpayments for carers in Scotland that remain once case transfer is complete and the current Agency Agreement comes to an end.
Asked by:
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the introduction and operation of Carer Support Payment, whether it has made an assessment of the potential merits of taking steps to prevent the accumulation of debt among carers in receipt of Carer's Allowance in Scotland due to (a) delayed investigation and (b) non-investigation of overpayment alerts.
Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
We have taken on board lessons from Carer’s Allowance in designing Carer Support Payment to better prevent overpayments. Information on earnings rules and when to report changes are much clearer. We are making better use of the ability to average out carers’ earnings, and using data from HMRC and scheduled reviews for self-employed carers to check and track carers’ earnings. Our systems use automated decision making for the most straightforward applications, allowing more time and resource to focus on complex cases and earnings processes. We pay Carer Support Payment four weekly in arrears as standard, reducing the potential for overpayments by allowing more time for a change of circumstances to be reported and reflected in a carer’s award. As part of the case transfer process, we also have processes in place to check earnings once carer’s awards are in payment to reduce the risk of inheriting existing overpayments. We are continuing to take feedback from carers and stakeholders to consider how we can continue to improve our earnings processes.
Asked by: Christina Rees (Labour (Co-op) - Neath)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Carer's Allowance overpayments to people living in Wales there were for the value of (a) £0.01 to £500, (b) £500.01 to £1,000, (c) £1,000.01 to £5,000, (d) £5,000.01 to £20,000 and (e) more than £20,000 in financial years (i) 2021-22, (ii) 2022-23 and (iii) 2023-24.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are unable to provide a response to this request as it is not possible for us to identify the data requested by geographic location.
May. 16 2024
Source Page: Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2023 to 2024 estimatesFound: The benefits reviewed in previous years are Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance Jobseeker's Allowance
May. 16 2024
Source Page: Experience of claiming and receiving Carer’s AllowanceFound: Experience of claiming and receiving Carer’s Allowance
We want a full review and reform of Carer’s Allowance to ensure that it works well at supporting unpaid carers, including raising the level and eligibility criteria for the benefit. We want systems to be modernised and urgent action from DWP to cap and prevent large overpayment debts for carers.
Found: Thousands of carers are incurring substantial debt as a result of Carer’s Allowance overpayments, sometimes
Dec. 01 2023
Source Page: Proposed benefit and pension rates 2024/2025Found: thereof, above or between the amount of capital disregarded and any capital upper limit applicable CARER'S
Nov. 28 2023
Source Page: Proposed benefit and pension rates 2024 to 2025Found: between the amount of capital disregarded and any capital upper limit applicable CARER'S
Jun. 10 2010
Source Page: Fraud and error in the benefit system: October 2008 to September 2009. 68 p.Found: Apr 04 - Mar 05 Retirement Pension 6,7£66.9bn 0.1% £90m 0.0% £0m 0.1% £60m 0.1% £30m Apr 05 - Mar 06 Carer's