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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Patrick Butler Social policy editor

Revealed: DWP still allowing unpaid carers to run up debts despite being told about overpayments

Chris Farrell holds a portrait in his living room
Chris Farrell said anxiety over the continued benefit payments in his bank account left him distressed and unable to move on with his life. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

A former unpaid carer has urged welfare officials to “get their act together” after they continued to pay him carer’s benefit for six months after the death of his husband, potentially landing him with debts of more than £1,300.

Chris Farrell, 65, who claimed carer’s allowance for four years while providing full-time care for his late husband repeatedly tried to get the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to stop paying him the £86.45 a week benefit.

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