More than 1,000 unpaid carers are receiving benefits in Winchester, new figures show.

Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show there were 1,023 people receiving the benefit in Winchester as of last summer, the most recent available figures.

A further 393 people were judged to be eligible for carer's allowance by the Department for Work and Pensions, but were not claiming it, potentially due to receiving other benefits which disqualify them, or receiving a top-up to other benefits instead.

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Those providing care for more than 35 hours and earning less than £151 a week are eligible for a carer's allowance – a weekly payment of £81.90.

The Government recently revealed 34,500 people across the country had been 'overpaid' the benefit, due to breaching the earnings limit, and have been fined as a result, with some fines reaching tens of thousands of pounds.

The Carers UK charity has called for the benefit to be reformed, with the earnings limit set at 21 hours of minimum wage work a week, currently £240.24 for those age 21 or over.

Tamara Sandoul, head of policy and public affairs, said: "Millions of unpaid cares who are eligible do not apply for Carer’s Allowance. As well as it being a relatively low benefit, as we have seen from various news reports, the risk of running up overpayments may not be worth it."

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Carer's UK is calling for "wide ranging" reform of the benefit, and wants to see a new, non-means tested payment for carers of state pension age.

Unpaid care is predominantly carried out by women, with 77 per cent of recipients of carer's allowance in Winchester female.

Across the South East, 104,000 were receiving the benefit last summer, with a further 39,000 eligible for it.

A spokesperson for the DWP said: "We recognise the importance of carers, who play a vital role in our communities, and we keep all of our benefits under constant review.

"From April, Carer’s Allowance increased to £81.90 a week, giving carers around an extra £1,500 a year compared to 2010."

"Carers in low-income households may also be eligible for additional financial support such as Universal Credit, or Pension Credit."