Welfare rights news and case law

16 February, 2022

Former Director for access to justice policy at the MoJ appointed as new Chief Executive of HMCTS

Nick Goodwin will take up the post in March 2022 on acting Chief Executive's retirement

15 February, 2022

Universal credit sanction rate up by 1.6 percentage points in just three months

New DWP statistics highlight that proportion of claimants sanctioned is now comparable to pre-pandemic position

15 February, 2022

Welsh Government announces £150 cost of living payment to all households in receipt of council tax reduction or who are in council tax bands A to D

New funding package also includes a further £25 million as a discretionary fund for local authorities ‘to use their local knowledge to help households who may be struggling’

15 February, 2022

Tribunal’s decision to make a closed period PIP award breached rules of natural justice as DWP failed to notify it of the claimant’s attempt to withdraw their later claim

VO v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (PIP)
[2022] UKUT 13 (AAC)
CPIP/904/2021

15 February, 2022

4.8 million households were on universal credit in November 2021, of which 4.1 million received a payment

New DWP statistics also show that 34,000 universal credit claims were made per week in the five weeks to 13 January 2022

14 February, 2022

Introduction of adult disability payment in Scotland

New statutory instrument

14 February, 2022

Fewer than 100 requests to waive universal credit official error overpayments were received by DWP in 12 months up to January 2022

Minister adds that 'almost all' requests from claimants for a reduction in the repayment rate are accepted

14 February, 2022

Amendment of information sharing provisions in Scotland so that they apply to adult disability payment

New statutory instrument

11 February, 2022

Reduction of permitted period during which Secretary of State is required to limit a new jobseeker’s work-related requirements

DWP issues guidance on new rules in force from 8 February 2022

11 February, 2022

DWP expects to be able to offer permanent positions to the majority of work coaches recruited on fixed-term contracts during Covid-19 pandemic

Minister says exercise to re-interview 12,000 staff will include offers of a range of other Executive Officer roles, not just as work coaches, where possible

11 February, 2022

DWP confirms it plans to run a second pilot of a sanctions early warning system later this year

Employment Minister says Department is committed to looking at processes to give claimants a written warning

11 February, 2022

Government rejects SSAC concern about impact of PIP past presence test on UK nationals fleeing Afghanistan

Treating those returning from Afghanistan in the same way as other UK nationals returning after living abroad is 'entirely consistent with the policy intent and the need to protect the public purse', says DWP Minister

11 February, 2022

Removal of restrictions on entitlement to payments from the welfare mitigation schemes in Northern Ireland for people affected by the benefit cap and the bedroom tax

New statutory rule

11 February, 2022

Disregarding energy rebate scheme payments in the calculation of council tax reduction in England

New statutory instrument also requires billing authorities to include details of the £150 payment on council tax bills

11 February, 2022

Every household in Scotland in receipt of council tax reduction to receive £150 in financial support to help address the cost of living crisis

Finance Minister also confirms that all other occupied households in Bands A will D will also receive £150

11 February, 2022

Uprating and miscellaneous amendments in relation to council tax reduction in Scotland

New statutory instrument

11 February, 2022

War Pensions Scheme uprating 2022/2023

Government confirms rates to increase by 3.1 per cent in line with the September 2021 Consumer Price Index

10 February, 2022

Select Committee Chair expresses ‘huge disappointment’ at lack of detail Secretary of State is able to provide on what the DWP is doing to support people affected by the cost of living crisis

Stephen Timms says that, equally worrying, is the admission that the cross-government group set up to address the issues seems to have been paused at the critical moment when large numbers are facing spiralling food and energy costs

10 February, 2022

Adult disability payment to launch in pilot areas next month after Scottish Parliament unanimously approves necessary legislation

Regulations mark a significant milestone in the delivery of a new social security system that is robust, secure, ambitious and compassionate, says Minister