If you were told you had a Carer's Allowance overpayment linked to your earnings between April 2015 and September 2025, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is reassessing those cases and the debt may be reduced, cancelled or refunded. For most people, there is nothing to do yet: Carers Trust says DWP will contact most of those affected. In the meantime, keep your payslips and keep reporting any change in your earnings.
To talk anything through with someone local, our Harpenden team is on 01582 824 830.
This article explains the reassessment in plain terms for family carers in Harpenden. It covers who it affects, what the latest figures show and how to avoid a new overpayment from here on.
What is the Carer's Allowance overpayment reassessment?
The reassessment follows an independent review led by Liz Sayce OBE, which the government published with its response on 25 November 2025. The review looked at overpayments that built up when carers' earnings went over the weekly limit.
According to the Carers Trust explainer, DWP is reviewing cases where its guidance on averaging fluctuating earnings was unclear between April 2015 and September 2025. The exercise began on 13 April 2026.
Carers Trust sets out what a review can and cannot do:
- It may reduce what you owe, or lead to a refund of money you have already repaid.
- Your earnings-related overpayment will not go up as a result.
- Penalties linked to an overpayment that is removed will also be refunded.
- If you get a refund, DWP will use it to help clear any other DWP debt you still owe.
Carers Trust also notes that repayments are not paused while the work goes on. Where money is still owed, DWP will agree a manageable repayment plan. DWP does not charge interest on these debts, and it will not pay interest on refunds.
What do the latest figures show?
On 14 October 2026, DWP published management information on the reassessment. It covers cases reviewed between 13 April and 13 September 2026.
Reporting on that data, Carers UK says around 2,400 cases had been examined. That is out of 230,900 cases due to be reassessed over three years. Carers UK also says DWP has suggested debts could be reduced, cancelled or refunded for around 26,000 unpaid carers.
In practice, this means reviews will take place over a long period. With reviews planned over three years, many people will not hear anything for some time.
Who is affected, and should I contact DWP?
The reassessment covers earnings-related overpayments of Carer's Allowance from April 2015 to September 2025. It also includes some devolved Scottish cases that DWP handled for the Scottish Ministers.
You do not need to contact DWP now. Carers Trust says most people whose claims may be affected will be contacted directly. For older cases, where DWP may no longer hold all the information because of data protection rules, it plans a simple online form, with a target launch of November 2026.
A few practical steps help while you wait:
- Keep payslips, P60s and any letters about your overpayment together in one folder.
- Note when your hours or pay changed, as best you can remember.
- If you are struggling with repayments, Carers Trust lists the DWP Debt Management Service on 0800 916 0647 for repayment options.
- If your overpayment is more recent, check the notification letter for how to ask for a mandatory reconsideration.
How to avoid a Carer's Allowance overpayment from now on
The earnings limit still applies. The GOV.UK eligibility page says your earnings must be £204 or less a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses. We explain how that limit works, and why it is a cliff edge rather than a taper, in our article on how much Carer's Allowance is.
The simplest protection is reporting changes straight away. GOV.UK lists the changes to report, including:
- starting, changing or leaving a job
- earning more than £204 a week
- stopping caring, or caring for less than 35 hours a week
- taking a holiday or going into hospital, even if you arrange care while you are away
- the person you care for going into hospital, a care home or on holiday
You can report most changes online in around 10 minutes, or to the Carer's Allowance Unit by phone or post. GOV.UK says you may have to repay money if you did not report a change straight away, gave wrong information or were overpaid by mistake. It also says you could have to pay a penalty, or be taken to court, for giving wrong information or not reporting a change.
If your pay goes up and down, for example with overtime or a zero-hours contract, it is worth checking each payslip against the limit. A quick check can save a lot of worry later.
Taking a break without risking your Carer's Allowance
Many family carers find that the paperwork is the part of caring that never switches off. It is worth knowing that a break from caring is something you report, not something you hide.
Because GOV.UK asks you to report holidays and hospital stays, it helps to plan breaks in advance. You can then report the dates and arrange cover for the person you care for at the same time. Our Carer's Allowance guide covers who can claim and how the benefit fits with other support.
Where Harpenden carers can get free advice
You do not have to work through this alone. Carers in Hertfordshire offers free information and advice to unpaid carers across the county, including help with Carer's Allowance and links to benefit specialists. You can call them on 01992 58 69 69 or email contact@carersinherts.org.uk.
HertsHelp can also point you towards independent support and information. Its line is 0300 123 4044, open 9am to 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am to 7pm on Wednesday, and 10am to 4pm at weekends.
How respite care can help
Respite care gives a family carer planned time off while someone trusted looks after their relative at home. That might be a few hours a week so you can rest or work, or a longer stretch while you take a holiday.
Our respite care is built around familiar carers, consistent visit times and a care plan agreed with the family. Visiting care is from £34 a visit, and live-in care is from £255 a day, or from £295 a day for couples. These are starting rates, and a price is agreed after an assessment.
Our Harpenden team supports families across the town, from Batford to Southdown. You can reach them on 01582 824 830 or at harpenden@starlinghomecare.co.uk, and you can read more on our Harpenden home care page.
Common questions about a Carer's Allowance overpayment in Harpenden
Will my Carer's Allowance overpayment be cancelled?
It may be. Carers Trust says a reassessment may reduce what you owe or lead to a refund, and it will not increase an earnings-related overpayment. Each case is looked at on its own facts, so the outcome will vary.
Do I need to stop repaying while my case is reviewed?
No. Carers Trust says repayments are not being paused. If you are finding repayments hard, the DWP Debt Management Service on 0800 916 0647 can talk through repayment options.
How will I know if my case is being reassessed?
Carers Trust says DWP will contact most people whose claims may be affected, so you do not need to get in touch now. For some older cases, DWP aims to launch a simple online form in November 2026.
Where can I get free help in Hertfordshire?
Carers in Hertfordshire offers free advice to unpaid carers on 01992 58 69 69. HertsHelp can also signpost you to independent support on 0300 123 4044.
The reassessment is a slow process, and waiting for a letter can feel unsettling. Keeping your records in order and reporting changes as they happen are the two steps that protect you most, both now and in the years ahead.
Details checked against DWP, GOV.UK, Carers Trust, Carers UK, Carers in Hertfordshire and HertsHelp on 19 October 2026. Our prices are starting rates, checked on the same date.
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