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AIBU?

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Original poster

To bring your attention to the Carers Benefit fraud scandal?

87 replies

MistressoftheDarkSide · 12/04/2024 09:56

https://amp.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/12/carers-allowance-benefit-error-30p-a-week-dwp

Don't know if anyone here might be affected by this, but in the wake if the Post Office scandal it's yet another example of lack of institutional accountability and disproportionate official responses that decimate the lives of ordinary people.

Carer convicted over benefit error worth 30p a week fights to clear his name | Benefits | The Guardian

George Henderson had to sell his home to repay nearly £20,000, years after ticking wrong box on carer’s allowance form

https://amp.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/12/carers-allowance-benefit-error-30p-a-week-dwp

OP posts:
Original poster
MistressoftheDarkSide · 12/04/2024 10:30

Fine. All carers are stupid, naive or scam artists.

I stand corrected.

I'll bow out too.

OP posts:
softslicedwhite · 12/04/2024 10:29

I receive Carers Allowance as I care full time for my son, recently my husband and I opened our own business, we will pay ourselves a wage, I know what I earn will be above threshold so before my first official payday I will be informing the DWP to stop paying the benefit. It's actually quite a complex system but some of these people are either incredibly naive, poorly informed or trying to be a tiny bit cheeky.

User2460132 · 12/04/2024 10:29

Fidgety31 · 12/04/2024 10:21

The father says that he claimed carers allowance so that he could give it to his son as a daily allowance …. That’s not what it’s for . CA is for the carer. The son would still have received his own benefits in order for the father to be eligible for CA.

Whilst I disagree with DWP wanting the full amount of CA back , rather than just the overpaid amount ….. benefit fraud is not something that should be ignored either .

The father had the financial savvy to buy and sell his own property but claims he didn’t understand the earnings rule when claiming the carers allowance . Sounds a bit far fetched to me .

I agree. Also I’m dubious about the claim that he “ticked the wrong box”. In any event he wasn’t entitled to the benefit and it’s right he pays it back

Fidgety31 · 12/04/2024 10:29

OP you seem to not want to hear differing opinions to yours so I will bow out now .

But yes I do understand the system , being a carer myself . So don’t be too quick to judge .

Original poster
MistressoftheDarkSide · 12/04/2024 10:28

As @Scampuss says, it's not about clawing back an overpayment as with most benefits, it's forfeiting the whole lot with no checks or balances.

OP posts:
OP posts:
Scampuss · 12/04/2024 10:25

Whilst I disagree with DWP wanting the full amount of CA back , rather than just the overpaid amount ….. benefit fraud is not something that should be ignored either.

With CA there isn't a 'just the overpaid amount' as if you go 1p over the earnings limit you forfeit the whole amount of CA for that week.

OP posts:
Original poster
MistressoftheDarkSide · 12/04/2024 10:23

Well there speaks someone with little understanding of the stresses and strains of the system and how it fails people.

There's another story out there that might tickle your empathy bone. I'll find it.

OP posts:
Fidgety31 · 12/04/2024 10:21

The father says that he claimed carers allowance so that he could give it to his son as a daily allowance …. That’s not what it’s for . CA is for the carer. The son would still have received his own benefits in order for the father to be eligible for CA.

Whilst I disagree with DWP wanting the full amount of CA back , rather than just the overpaid amount ….. benefit fraud is not something that should be ignored either .

The father had the financial savvy to buy and sell his own property but claims he didn’t understand the earnings rule when claiming the carers allowance . Sounds a bit far fetched to me .

Original poster
MistressoftheDarkSide · 12/04/2024 10:20

Bump.

OP posts:
Original poster
MistressoftheDarkSide · 12/04/2024 10:10

Bump.

OP posts: