---

Carer's Allowance: Overpayments

Answer

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has prosecuted cases of benefit fraud since 2012. DWP will refer cases where there is evidence that a claimant has deliberately claimed benefits they are not entitled to or provided false information. The decision to prosecute is decided by the CPS.

The NAO published DWP’s data on the number of cases related to the overpayments of Carer’s Allowance that were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) for prosecution since 2015.

These are available on p.23 in the NAO Investigation into overpayments of Carer's Allowance report published on 26 April 2019. These volumes relate to cases where the individuals concerned have a Carer’s Allowance overpayment, however Carer’s Allowance might not be the primary benefit under consideration for the prosecution.

On p.30 in the NAO Carer’s Allowance report published on 11 December 2024. These volumes are only where a case is being referred for prosecution where a Carer’s Allowance overpayment was the primary benefit under investigation. Therefore, they are not directly comparable to the preceding volumes.

The volumes are for all prosecutions including earnings-related cases.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

99553

Session

2024-26

Related items

Carer's Allowance: Overpayments
Monday, 12 January 2026
Written questions
House of Commons

Subjects

Carers Fraud Overpayments Carer's allowance

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk