Welfare rights news and case law

4 November, 2021

Further limitation of exception to the universal credit basic condition ‘not to be receiving education’ for those in receipt of a disability benefit

New statutory instrument

4 November, 2021

Northern Ireland Executive says it does not have sufficient resources to fund DfC’s bid for £55 million to mitigate £20 universal credit cut

Finance Minister says there would also need to be a commitment to funding the uplift in future years to avoid creating another cliff-edge at the end of March

4 November, 2021

Social Security Scotland received 230 complaints during 2020/2021 of which almost a fifth progressed to a full ‘stage two’ investigation

However, 92 per cent of claimant survey respondents rated their experience as 'good' or 'very good' and 94 per cent felt they were treated with kindness

3 November, 2021

Family of Philippa Day secures ‘substantial financial settlement’ from Capita by way of compensation for contractor’s failings which materially contributed to her death

However, there remain too many examples of the DWP 'acting inhumanely' and a 'continued resistance' by the Department to carry out transparent investigations into benefit-related deaths, says Leigh Day law firm

3 November, 2021 Open access

House of Lords votes to preserve triple-lock protection for state pension

Introducing amendment to Uprating Bill, Conservative peer Baroness Altmann says that while the change would be for one year only, 'what a year to choose' when older people are facing a cost-of-living crisis

3 November, 2021

Landlord who received direct payments of housing benefit is a ‘necessary party’ to claimant’s appeal against decision to recover subsequent overpayment from the claimant only

DBH v West Lindsey District Council (HB)
[2021] UKUT 256 (AAC)
CH/1041/2020

3 November, 2021

Scottish Social Security Committee calls for Scottish child payment to be doubled ‘as soon as possible’

Scrutiny report issued ahead of Scottish Budget says expediting the increase will ‘maximise potential to meet Scotland’s child poverty targets’

2 November, 2021

More than 300,000 PIP claims will need to be reviewed as a result of Supreme Court’s 2019 judgment relating to Activity 9

DWP Minister confirms that while claimants will not be invited for an assessment, they may be contacted for further information

2 November, 2021

Northern Ireland Communities Minister says she has tried to get welfare mitigation legislation onto the Executive agenda 40 times ‘to no avail’

Legislation is ready to go, says Minister, calling for DUP to lift blockage that is causing ‘unacceptable’ delays

1 November, 2021

New regulations will lead to ‘inconsistent’ level of escalating sanction deductions for some new style JSA and ESA claimants

Social Security Advisory Committee calls for Employment Minister to review and address the issue 'at the earliest opportunity'

1 November, 2021

DWP confirms extension of its Train and Progress initiative that allows universal credit claimants to take part in up to 12 weeks full-time training

Change follows the government's recent announcement of a £500 million expansion of its Plan for Jobs

29 October, 2021

Around three quarters of households on universal credit will be worse off as a result of removal of £20 uplift despite changes to taper rate and work allowances

Resolution Fondation analysis finds that measures announced in this week's Autumn Budget and Spending Review will be 'overshadowed by last month’s £6 billion cut to entitlement'

29 October, 2021

DWP outlines details of ‘Tailoring Up’ approach being used as a new way to deliver its existing conditionality policy for people with health conditions

Work and Pensions Minister says that initiative encourages a 'voluntary first' approach to allow claimants to test out employment support activities without risk of a sanction

29 October, 2021

Scottish Government announces £41 million Winter Support Fund to help low-income households and people at risk of homelessness

However, Social Justice Minister says that while every penny received from the UK Government is being passed on, it in no way makes up for the £20-a-week cut to universal credit

29 October, 2021

Providing a legal basis for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and others to use or supply information they hold for prescribed purposes relating to housing benefit

New regulations correct error that has meant that sharing of data has previously had no legal effect and any related data processing is likely to have been unlawful

28 October, 2021

Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts that welfare spending will rise by just 0.5 per cent in 2021/2022

Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2021 highlights that the largest factor reducing relative spending is the ending of the £20 uplift, with payments to more than 4 million households reduced by £2.1 billion over the second half of the year

28 October, 2021

Information sharing and other amendments following the introduction of child disability payment in Scotland

New statutory instrument

28 October, 2021

Department for Communities in Northern Ireland issues amending regulations to clarify when benefit sanctions can be escalated

New statutory rule

27 October, 2021

Government announces that universal credit taper is to be reduced to 55 per cent and work allowances increased by £500

Presenting the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021, Chancellor says changes 'to make sure work pays' will be brought in by 1 December 2021