National Audit Office to investigate growing scandal over carer’s allowance

Unpaid carers interviewed by the Guardian have revealed how the government’s continuing failure to tackle overpayments has pushed them into debt and ill health. Photograph: Who Am I/Alamy

The government’s spending watchdog is to investigate the growing scandal over carer benefits that has plunged tens of thousands of vulnerable unpaid carers into debt after they unwittingly breached benefit rules.

In a letter, the National Audit Office (NAO) told the Commons work and pensions select committee its intervention was triggered by public and political concerns over the mounting human and financial costs of carer’s allowance overpayments.