Carer's Allowance changes you must report to DWP or risk payments being stopped

Anyone who receives Carer’s Allowance must report the following changes to the Department for Work and Pensions or risk losing the payments.

The latest figures from the DWP show that in May 2022 there were 936,766 people receiving weekly payments of £69.70 for Carer’s Allowance across Britain. The benefit is set to rise to £76.75 per week in April. As it is paid every four weeks, this amounts to £307.00 - an increase of £28.20 from the current rate of £278.80.

However, many unpaid carers might not be aware that certain changes in their circumstances must be reported to the DWP or their payments could stop. They may have to pay a penalty or may even be taken to court, reports the Daily Record.

Read More: All the Child Benefit changes you must report to HMRC or risk missing out on payments

Guidance on GOV.UK warns: "You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances."

The main change that you must report to the DWP is if the person you are caring for dies, but there are several others you should be aware of whether you are currently claiming or have applied for Carer’s Allowance. Changes can include:

• starting a job
• starting or ending full-time education
• changes to your income
• stopping being a carer
• the person you care for no longer getting their disability benefit
• someone else who cares for the same person claiming Carer’s Allowance instead of you
• someone else who cares for the same person claims the carer’s element of Universal Credit
• changes to your immigration status, if you’re not a British citizen
• If you temporarily stop providing care for someone

You can still get Carer’s Allowance if you temporarily stop providing care. This means any period when you spend less than 35 hours a week caring for the other person, however, the person you care for must still receive their disability benefit.

You must tell DWP if you temporarily stop providing care and:

• you or the person you care for will be in hospital, a nursing home, or respite care for more than 12 weeks
• you stop caring for more than 28 days for any other reason

If you have been paid too much

You may have to repay the money if you:

• did not report a change straight away
• gave wrong information
• were overpaid by mistake

Here is more information about Carer’s Allowance.

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