Unpaid carers say chancellor’s plan to scrap allowance cliff edge falls short
Summary
The UK government plans to replace the carer’s allowance earnings cliff edge with a digital taper, but the new system may not be ready until before 2030. Unpaid carers welcome the proposed change but say it does not address past overpayment demands, and they remain concerned about penalties while the current rule stays in place.Key Facts
- The chancellor is expected to announce a digital taper for carer’s allowance in the budget.
- Under the current rule, earning more than £204 a week can result in losing the entire £86.45 weekly allowance payment.
- The digital system must be built from scratch and is not expected to be operational before 2030.
- The Shahars received a repayment demand of £10,130.45, plus a £50 civil penalty, after Oksana exceeded the earnings limit by an average of £1.92 a week.
- The Shahars are challenging the repayment demand at a tribunal.
- Elizabeth Tait received a £1,623 overpayment bill after unknowingly exceeding the earnings threshold.
- Andrea Tucker successfully challenged a £4,600 overpayment at a tribunal in February 2025.
- Carers interviewed in the article say the proposed reform does not resolve repayment demands for past overpayments.
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