Thousands of c arers were forced out of work after incurring vast debts from benefits overpayments, the head of a damning review into the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has told The i Paper .

Liz Sayce led a review into the department’s failure to address overpayments of carer’s allowance, received by people who are unable to work full-time due to their caring duties.

Those providing care for at least 35 hours a week are entitled to the benefit, which amounts to a weekly payment of £83.30.

But carers are only entitled to the allowance if their weekly earnings do not exceed £196, with the DWP’s “cliff-edge” rules meaning that anyone exceeding this limit – even by 1p – must repay the entire week’s allowance. New Feature

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