Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many carer’s allowance overpayment cases that have not been investigated by his Department; and how many such cases there were in each of the last five years.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are unable to provide a response as it is unclear from your question as to the information you seek.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of taking steps to prevent the accumulation of debt among carers due to (a) delayed investigation and (b) non-investigation of overpayment alerts.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The DWP is progressing an enhanced notification strategy for Carers’ Allowance, to help claimants understand when they may have received an earnings-related overpayment, and to meet their obligation to inform the Department of changes in their income and other relevant circumstances. This will be designed to help prevent Carer’s Allowance claimants accumulating debt.
As part of that, DWP is considering the most effective and efficient way of contacting customers when alerted to a potential change in the customer’s income, building on existing communications. This could include targeted text messaging, email, phone calls or letters.
May. 16 2024
Source Page: Experience of claiming and receiving Carer’s AllowanceFound: Experience of claiming and receiving Carer’s Allowance
May. 16 2024
Source Page: Unfulfilled eligibility in the benefit system: financial year 2023 to 2024 estimatesFound: The benefits reviewed in previous years are Employment and Support Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carer's
May. 16 2024
Source Page: Unfulfilled eligibility in the benefit system: financial year 2023 to 2024 estimatesFound: The benefits reviewed in previous years are Employment and Support Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carer's
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: 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
Correspondence May. 16 2024
Committee: Work and Pensions Committee (Department: Department for Work and Pensions)Found: Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to Carer's Allowance Correspondence
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Carer’s Allowance overpayment cases are being investigated by his Department; and if he will publish the level of overpayments being pursued, broken down into £1,000 ranges in the financial year 2023-24.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
There are currently 750 live cases where Carers Allowance is shown as the “primary” benefit under investigation.
We do not hold information on the size of any individual overpayment whilst the investigation process is taking place – this is not determined until the investigation is completed.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many outstanding Carer’s Allowance Verify Earnings and Pension service alerts there were at the end of the financial year 2023-24.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The DWP is currently developing recommendations focused on helping claimants understand their responsibilities to report a change of circumstances and how DWP can help prevent the accumulation of debts amongst Carer’s Allowance claimants.