Young carer overwhelmed by offers of help after £2,145 repayment

Young carer overwhelmed by offers of help after £2,145 repayment

Rose Jones, a 22-year-old young woman, is at the center of an emotional account of the challenges faced by young carers in the UK. After being asked to pay back £2,145 by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), she feels overwhelmed. The repayment relates to overpayments of the Carer’s Allowance she was entitled to while she worked as a carer for her mother. Jones began caring for her mother at the age of eight, and the entire situation took a toll on her, especially considering her financial obligations, including worrying about rent.

However, the support of readers of national newspapers has given her a surprising boost. Readers have banded together to pay back Jones, which she describes as incredible and overwhelming.

Reviews and necessary reforms

This situation comes at a time when the UK government has announced it will launch an independent review into Carer’s Allowance overpayments. The Department for Work and Pensions announced on 7 July 2025 that this review would be led by Liz Sayce OBE. The aim is to investigate the causes of these overpayments and ensure that future errors are avoided. Minister Liz Kendall initiated the review and the results are expected to be presented by summer 2025.

The review will address several key issues, including the link between overpayments and carers' earnings. Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Social Security and Disability, has stressed the urgency for carers to receive support rather than being punished. This message is supported by the fact that the Carer's Allowance income limit has increased by £45 per week to now £196. This represents the largest increase in the history of the Carer’s Allowance income limit and over 60,000 carers will benefit from these changes by 2029/30.

A call for change

Given the complexity of the situation Rose Jones finds herself in, Emily Holzhausen from Carers UK expressed concern about the negative impact of DWP policy on young carers. Their comments suggest that the system needs to be reformed to prevent similar cases in the future. Jones found the review of Carer’s Allowance and the challenges it poses to be timely and necessary.

Rose Jones' story is not only a personal but also a societal challenge that draws attention to the conditions and recognition of carers. The pressure on Jones to repay and the anxiety that comes with it highlights the precarious financial situation of many people caring for loved ones. Given the planned reforms, Jones hopes that the situation will improve for future generations of nurses and that they will receive the necessary support they deserve.