Welfare rights news and case law

3 October, 2022

Transfer of HMCTS staff to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to reflect increasing workload within the Scottish social security tribunal system

New statutory instrument

30 September, 2022

Without a U-turn on tax cuts, the Chancellor has eight weeks to decide which combination of public spending or welfare cuts he is going to announce

Resolution Foundation says the government has some tough policy choices to make in Medium-Term Fiscal Plan to be delivered on 23 November 2022

30 September, 2022

Government reports that more than 14 million cost of living payments have been processed, including 6 million payments to people on disability benefits

DWP management information also shows that total value of payments to disability benefit claimants and means-tested benefit claimants is £3.6 billion

30 September, 2022

Extension of exemptions from LHA shared accommodation rate to include victims of domestic abuse and victims of modern slavery from 1 October 2022

DWP issues new guidance to universal credit and housing benefit decision makers

29 September, 2022

Chief Secretary to the Treasury refuses to confirm that the government is committed to increasing benefits in line with inflation next year

Chris Philp says that the DWP is going through the process of evaluating what it is going to do, and that 'I can't pre-empt the process can I?'

29 September, 2022

District councils warn that a £900m increase in costs due to inflation and pay pressures may lead to cuts to local services including emergency payment schemes and debt and benefits advice

Network representing councils in England also highlights that nine out of ten expect demand for support services to grow due to the cost of living crisis and inflation

29 September, 2022

More than half of adult disability payment applications decided in period up to 31 July 2022 resulted in an award

New Scottish Government statistics also show that more than 70 per cent of awards were for both daily living and mobility components

29 September, 2022

Uprating of diffuse mesothelioma lump sum payments in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule revokes and re-enacts previous legislation that came into force in April 2022 that would otherwise cease to have effect

29 September, 2022

Social security benefits up-rating in Northern Ireland

New statutory rules revoke and re-enact previous legislation that came into force in April 2022 that would otherwise cease to have effect

29 September, 2022

Ensuring that Irish Citizens are covered by exemption from requirement to satisfy habitual residence test or past presence test for people arriving in Northern Ireland from Ukraine

New statutory rule

28 September, 2022

Systemic problem with universal credit puts disabled claimants at risk of being underpaid by more than £350 per month

With DWP officials having rejected their proposed solution, disability and welfare organisations call on Minister to take urgent action

27 September, 2022

Cost of administering PIP mandatory reconsiderations increased to more than £28 million in 2021/2022

Minister also advises that, during the same time period, the cost of PIP appeals peaked at £35 million in 2017/2018 before dropping to just under £20 million in 2021/2022

27 September, 2022

Adding Council Tax Reduction Review Panel to list of tribunals whose functions can be transferred to the Scottish Tribunals

New statutory instrument

27 September, 2022

Ensuring that Irish Citizens are covered by exemption from requirement to satisfy habitual residence test or past presence test for people arriving in Great Britain from Ukraine

New statutory instrument

27 September, 2022 Open access

Extending Covid-19 related provisions that enable wider and extended use of video and audio live links in courts and tribunals in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule extends provisions for six months to 24 March 2023

26 September, 2022

High Court rules that DWP acts unlawfully by failing to seek representations from claimants before applying third party deductions for utility debts

Timson, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary 0f State for Work and Pensions [2022] EWHC 2392 (Admin)

26 September, 2022

PCS union warns that already ‘overstretched’ jobcentre staff face increase in workload as a result of universal credit changes being introduced today

Union also highlights that the more than 110,000 additional claimants subject to work coach interventions will increase further once plans announced by the Chancellor last week are brought into effect

26 September, 2022

DWP Permanent Secretary outlines groups who may have been underpaid state pension but who are not included in the Department’s LEAP exercise

Peter Schofield writes to the Public Accounts Committee to advise that those not included need to contact the Department

26 September, 2022

Labour would reform jobcentres and employment services through active help and support instead of threats and sanctions

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary also says that outsourcing of contracts would be replaced by partnerships with community groups, local authorities and services like the NHS