Try GOLD - Free
'Complacency' at DWP blamed for carer's allowance scandal
The Guardian
|February 05, 2026
The government's most senior welfare official was accused of presiding over a “culture of complacency” that led to thousands of unpaid carers running up huge benefit debts.
Debbie Abrahams, the chair of the work and pensions select committee, said the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had repeatedly failed to prioritise vulnerable people.
Abrahams said she found it “difficult to have confidence” in the DWP’s permanent secretary, Sir Peter Schofield, who had promised MPs more than six years ago that he would fix critical flaws in the carer’s allowance benefit but had failed to do so.
This story is from the February 05, 2026 edition of The Guardian.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Guardian
The Guardian
Silva to leave after nine golden years with City
Bernardo Silva has confirmed he will leave Manchester City in May, with the captain saying he cherishes the legacy he has helped build in nine years at the club, winning the 2022-23 treble anda record four consecutive league titles.
1 mins
April 17, 2026
The Guardian
MSC blue tick creates ethical fishing 'illusion', say researchers
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which operates a \"blue tick\" scheme to indicate the sustainability of fish, has been accused of creating an \"illusion\" of ethical sourcing, after a study reported that widespread labour abuses have taken place on the fishing vessels it approves.
1 min
April 17, 2026
The Guardian
'Bullying' Ticketmaster is a harmful monopoly, US jury finds
The entertainment company Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary has a harmful monopoly over big concert venues, a Manhattan federal jury has found, dealing the company a blow in a lawsuit over claims brought by dozens of US states.
2 mins
April 17, 2026
The Guardian
Gibbs-White fires ailing Forest past 10-man Porto
The final whistle brought a second of relief before the celebrations truly kicked in after Nottingham Forest secured a place in the Europa League semifinals.
3 mins
April 17, 2026
The Guardian
Protests over alleged assault in Epsom condemned
The minister of a church near the scene of an alleged gang-rape in Epsom has condemned the “intimidating” protests in which hundreds of people gathered in the Surrey town to demand information about the suspects from police.
2 mins
April 17, 2026
The Guardian
Rice demands Arsenal up their game for City showdown
Declan Rice has insisted Arsenal must be better at Manchester City on Sunday if they are to press their Premier League title claims.
1 min
April 17, 2026
The Guardian
Guardiola set to benefit from Arteta's abandoning of belief
Before Sunday's showdown it is clear which man has remained a Cruyff disciple and which very much has not
5 mins
April 17, 2026
The Guardian
Oysters set to make huge comeback after planned North Sea project gets green light|
Morethan 15m juvenile oysters are to be released into the North Seain one of the biggest rewilding projects seen in UK waters.
2 mins
April 17, 2026
The Guardian
Economy showed surprise growth before Iran war
UK GDP expanded by a stronger than expected 0.5% in February, official figures show, suggesting the economy was gaining momentum before the onset of war in the Middle East dashed hopes of recovery.
2 mins
April 17, 2026
The Guardian
Big tech must do more to protect children, PM says
Keir Starmer told social media bosses yesterday that “things can’t go on like this” in a meeting at Downing Street about internet safety.
2 mins
April 17, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size