MPs, charities, and campaigners are urging the government, specifically Rishi Sunak, to grant an amnesty to write off these debts.

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, has also joined the call, raising concerns about the legality of the approach.

The Guardian revealed that 156,000 carers are currently repaying severe penalties, some reaching tens of thousands of pounds.

Unpaid carers, who are praised by the government for supporting the NHS and social care system, are facing financial hardship due to penalties for earning above the weekly limit.

Over 11,600 carers are paying back debts exceeding £5,000.

One in five carers in work breached the limit last year, highlighting the system's flaws.

MP for Dartford, Gareth Johnson, called for these debts to be waived due to the distress and financial burden caused.

The government is under pressure to address this scandal, which has generated outrage for the harsh treatment of unpaid carers.

The Guardian has reported on the despair and stress experienced by carers forced to pay large fines and even face fraud charges for unintentional earnings limit breaches.

The Department for Work and Pensions has allowed these debts to accumulate for months and sometimes years.

Davey called for the government to write off historical overpayments of Carer's Allowance, a benefit paying £81.90 per week to approximately 1 million unpaid carers in the UK.

He attributed the accumulation of overpayments to DWP incompetence and urged them to cease collection of old debts and cancel existing fines.

Unpaid carers were praised for their valuable and significant contributions to society.