Carer’s allowance scandal victims could wait until 2054 for justice, charities warn

Campaigners say at current glacial pace some unpaid carers will die before receiving a refund

Unpaid carers who were pursued for bills for thousands of pounds after welfare officials unlawfully changed benefit rules could wait years before learning whether they will get the money back, campaigners have warned.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is working through 200,000 cases where carer’s allowance benefit recipients were incorrectly given overpayments. An estimated 25,000 carers could receive full or partial refunds.