Welfare rights news and case law

14 June, 2022

DWP confirms that the first ‘migration notices’ have been issued to legacy benefit claimants in Bolton and Medway as part of the managed move to universal credit

New DWP guidance adds that process will be 'small and controlled' initially with just 500 notices being issued across the two locations

14 June, 2022

Government confirms that it has applied for permission to appeal against High Court ruling that National Disability Strategy is unlawful

DWP Minister also tells Parliament that Department is pausing some of the policies contained in strategy while waiting for permission to appeal decision from Court of Appeal

14 June, 2022

Less than a quarter of successful new PIP claims receive an award of more than two years

New DWP statistics also show that just 29 per cent of decisions are overturned at mandatory reconsideration, continuing a downward trend since mid-2021

14 June, 2022

Enabling registered nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and physiotherapists to issue fit notes in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

13 June, 2022

Government says it has ‘no plans’ to reduce the maximum ten years that families with children can spend subject to NRPF

Response to Select Committee report says that requiring families to be self-sufficient ensures they are 'prepared for life in the UK' and 'maintains fairness and confidence' in the UK's immigration system

13 June, 2022

Transfer of PIP claimants in Scotland to adult disability payment

New Social Security Scotland guidance confirms that transfer will take place between June 2022 and summer 2024

13 June, 2022

More than half of universal credit households with someone assessed as having LCW or LCWRA had deductions from their award in February 2022

New DWP figures also show that two-fifths of work capability-related claims with deductions were subject to a deduction rate of more than 20 per cent of the standard allowance

10 June, 2022

Enabling registered nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and physiotherapists to issue fit notes

New statutory instrument

10 June, 2022

Social Entitlement Chamber President proposes that PIP appeals that do not involve assessment of daily living or mobility activities should be heard by judge sitting alone

Proposal included in wider consultation on reforms to tribunal panel composition issued by Senior President of Tribunals

10 June, 2022

More than half of all households with children on universal credit were subject to deductions in February 2022

New DWP figures also show the majority of households with children subject to deductions had a deduction rate of 20 per cent or more

9 June, 2022

Prime Minister outlines plan to assist people with buying first home by turning ‘benefits to bricks’

Measures set out in speech today include allowing working recipients of housing benefits to spend benefit payment on first mortgage, and cutting waiting period for SMI loans

9 June, 2022

Government ‘cannot say at this stage’ when draft Bereavement Benefits Remedial Order will come into force

Minister confirms that Order drafted in response to 2018 Supreme Court judgment will be subject to further 60 day scrutiny period followed by debates in both Houses of Parliament before proposals become law

9 June, 2022

DWP digital services targeted for improvement as part of mission to deliver a ‘transformed, more efficient’ digital government

New digital roadmap outlines that by 2025 prioritised services across government will have 'great user experience' and efficient processes that reduce their cost to run

9 June, 2022

Less than 300 mandatory reconsiderations of ESA work capability assessments were registered in April 2022

DWP yet to respond to request from the Office for Statistics Regulation for it to outline its plans for publishing WCA statistics in relation to universal credit claimants

9 June, 2022

Number of social security and child support appeal disposals in 2021/2022 decreased by a third compared to previous year

New MoJ statistics also show that almost 50,000 cases were outstanding by the end of the financial year, up by 8 per cent on previous year

8 June, 2022

Inquiry into judicial independence finds majority of judges have serious concerns about lack of respect from government ministers and constant 'soft pressure' of political reform if they decide against the executive

Report from APPG on Democracy and the Constitution also finds multiple examples of Supreme Court judgments that have departed from its previous authority and assumed a position 'more palatable to the executive'

8 June, 2022

Ombudsman recommends DWP pay compensation of more than £500 to claimant following seven month delay in processing his claim

In addition, recommendations include that DWP apologises to claimant for difficult financial position its actions contributed to him being in

8 June, 2022

DWP did not have jurisdiction to make decision on claim for universal credit made by claimant who lived in Northern Ireland

RP-v-Department for Communities (UC)
[2022] NICom 9
C1/22-23(UC)

8 June, 2022

Support for Mortgage Interest etc (Security for Loans) (Northern Ireland) Act receives Royal Assent

New legislation introduces additional means to secure support for mortgage interest loans on all properties in the region