Carer's Allowance overpayments: 2,400 cases reviewed in the first five months
DWP's first progress figures on the Carer's Allowance overpayments reassessment show 2,400 cases reviewed and 230,900 still waiting. What it means if you're affected.
If you were overpaid Carer's Allowance because your earnings went up and down from week to week, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has now published its first figures on putting it right.
What the figures show
DWP began reassessing these overpayments on 13 April 2026, after an independent review found that its guidance on averaging earnings did not match the law between April 2015 and September 2025. Its first progress report, published on 14 October 2026, covers 13 April to 13 September 2026 (DWP, 14 October 2026). In that time DWP:
- reviewed and cleared 2,400 cases
- changed the original decision in 200 of them
- cut the debt owed by 100 carers, by £251 each on average
- repaid 100 carers, £342 each on average
In total, that is around £20,000 of debt cut and £40,000 repaid. At the end of the period, 230,900 cases were still waiting. DWP expects to finish by March 2029, and its next update is due in spring 2027. The figures are rounded, and DWP describes them as management information rather than official statistics.
Why charities are concerned
Carers UK says the 2,400 cases are 1.04% of the total, and that at this pace the exercise would take around 40 years (Carers UK, 14 October 2026). Its chief executive, Helen Walker, said: "These numbers are deeply disappointing." The charity is asking for more regular updates and for scrutiny by MPs.
What this means for you
- You don't need to contact DWP about the reassessment. GOV.UK says DWP will get in touch with a decision or if it needs more information (GOV.UK, Contact the Carer's Allowance Unit).
- The reassessment won't make your overpayment bigger (Carers Trust explainer).
- Older cases may need a form. Where DWP no longer holds the records for an older case, it plans a simple online form. The government said late 2026 (Hansard, 13 April 2026), and Carers Trust says DWP aims to open it in November 2026.
- Keep old letters and payslips together, in case DWP asks about past earnings.
- Get free advice from Carers UK, Carers Trust or Citizens Advice.
Guidance only. DWP makes the decisions on every claim.
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Original source: Sayce review into Carer's Allowance earnings-related overpayments: reassessment exercise management information to September 2026, DWP, 14 October 2026