Welfare rights news and case law

20 April, 2021

DWP acknowledges that some PIP claimants on fixed-term awards without a review date are now ‘falling out of payment’ before renewal decisions can be made

Renewal claims from affected claimants will be prioritised and dealt with as quickly as possible, says DWP Minister

20 April, 2021

Number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits increased by more than four per cent in the three months to February 2021

DWP's alternative claimant count now stands at 2.87 million

20 April, 2021

DWP confirms that more than 40,000 people are currently repaying carer’s allowance overpayments

However, Minister says that it is not intended that the recovery of an overpayment should cause any customer undue financial hardship

20 April, 2021

DWP’s ‘ambition’ is to restart its mental health learning for work coaches in 2021/2022

Training introduced in April 2018 was paused in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Minister advises

19 April, 2021 Open access

DWP adds new medical guidance on post-Covid Syndrome to staff guide on DLA for children

Updated guide advises that a 12-month award is appropriate for children with disablement solely caused by the illness

19 April, 2021

Local authorities to be responsible for instructing the DWP to stop deductions for council tax and/or council rent arrears from claimants in Breathing Space scheme

DWP also advises that deductions will not be automatically restarted at the end of Breathing Space moratorium period

19 April, 2021

Benefit uprating and social security contribution rates for 2021/2022

New DWP guidance

19 April, 2021

Payments to local authorities in respect of the Verify Earnings and Pension Alerts service 2021/2022

New DWP guidance

19 April, 2021

Housing benefit administration subsidy arrangements for local authorities in 2021/2022

New DWP guidance

19 April, 2021

Allocation of additional funding to local authorities to support the costs of implementing welfare reform changes in 2021/2022

New Housing Benefit Circular confirms details of more than £20 million being provided to meet 'New Burdens' incurred by councils

16 April, 2021

DWP provides copy of 2018 Infrastructure and Projects Authority Universal Credit Full Business Case Review

Delivery confidence rated as 'Amber/Green' on basis that, while Business Case was affordable and provided value for money, it appeared to rely on 'theory rather than empirical evidence' in some areas

16 April, 2021 Open access

Housing association tenants on universal credit more likely to be in rent arrears and to have higher average arrears than other housing association tenants

NHF survey finds that 60 per cent of tenants on universal credit had rent arrears, as compared to 36 per cent of other tenants, and that average rent arrears for universal credit claimants were double the average of those paying by other means

15 April, 2021 Open access

Number of private renters receiving housing support up by almost half since start of pandemic

Shelter highlights that with LHA rates covering 30 per cent of the market and 45 per cent of private renters needing help to pay their housing costs, there are simply not enough affordable homes to go round

14 April, 2021 Open access

Work and Pensions Secretary announces that Covid Winter Grant Scheme is to be extended to 20 June 2021

Initiative, that will be renamed the Covid Local Support Grant, is to receive an additional £40 million in funding

14 April, 2021

Pre-action protocol letters are a ‘vital way’ for claimants to challenge poor decision-making by government before making a claim for judicial review

Government departments should focus on improving their own decision-making processes rather than complaining that letters are being used 'inappropriately', says CPAG

14 April, 2021

DWP provides copy of Best Practice Memorandum issued to all decision-making staff involved in appeals lapsing

'Quality Focus' issued in August 2020 confirms that representatives should always be consulted about potential lapse, and that claimants should not be pressured to accept lapse 'under any circumstances'

13 April, 2021

High Court of Northern Ireland rules that the 13 week housing benefit temporary absence rules that apply to serving prisoners do not breach human rights law

Taylor, Re Application for Judicial Review (Rev 1) [2020] NIQB 78

13 April, 2021 Open access

PCS expresses fear that DWP’s decision to resume face-to face appointments is more about reinstating conditionality regime than providing support to claimants

'Reckless move by Ministers is wholly unnecessary and risks putting both claimants and jobcentre staff in harm's way', says Union's General Secretary

13 April, 2021

Enabling deductions to be made from benefits for ongoing liabilities for housing, fuel and water while original debt is subject to moratorium under ‘breathing space’ scheme

New statutory instrument