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2 March, 2021

Government rejects MPs’ call to introduce universal credit ‘starter payment’ to alleviate claimants’ financial difficulties during five-week wait for first payment

Response to Work and Pensions Committee report says non-repayable advances would increase administrative burdens, risks of fraud, and ‘inappropriate’ awards

2 March, 2021

DWP deducted more than £166 million from universal credit claims in November 2020

New figures also show that 44 per cent of claims had a deduction and that average deduction was £78 per claim

2 March, 2021

Extension of the Covid-19 Heating Payment Scheme in Northern Ireland to those in receipt of specified disability benefits

New statutory rule also extends the date for accepting applications to 30 June 2021

1 March, 2021

DWP to stay making decisions where claimant has no right to reside other than pre-settled status

New DWP guidance follows permission being granted for the Secretary of State to appeal the decision in Fratila vs SSWP to the Supreme Court

1 March, 2021

DWP issues guidance on reduced housing benefit personal allowance rates for claimants reaching pensionable age on or after 1 April 2021

New Housing Benefit Circular sets out how single and couple claimants will be affected by the changes

1 March, 2021

Government Digital Service approves online ‘Apply for a National Insurance Number’ service

Minister advises that service will be available to all applicants who do not require face-to-face verification of identity by the end of March 2021

26 February, 2021 Open access

Liberty publishes draft Coronavirus (Rights and Support) Bill to counter the ‘dangerous’ Coronavirus Act

'Rights-respecting' legislation would provide support for everyone, including the most marginalised who are in danger of being left behind

26 February, 2021

DWP appoints new Non-Executive Board Members to provide ‘independent advice, support and scrutiny’ on the department’s work

New three-year appointments will work with civil servants and ministers across all areas of the department

25 February, 2021

Introduction of reduced housing benefit personal allowance rates for claimants reaching pensionable age on or after 1 April 2021

New statutory instrument

25 February, 2021

Current system of DWP support for disabled people is ‘broken’, says Social Market Foundation

Think tank calls on government to acknowledge its failures, and commit to engaging with disabled people to develop a system for the future that works better

25 February, 2021

DWP ‘exploring potential options’ to take on premises as temporary jobcentres in areas where increased demand is expected

Minister for Employment advises that Department has already opened three temporary sites in Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne and Crawley

25 February, 2021

DWP confirms it is restarting pilot of integrated assessment service for ESA, PIP and universal credit from April 2021

Disability, Health and Work Minister confirms that new digital platform will initially be tested and developed in London sites before being rolled out nationally

25 February, 2021

Around £32 million has been paid out as a result of PIP review exercise following Upper Tribunal decisions relating to ‘psychological distress’ and carrying out activities ‘safely’

DWP advises that more than 6,000 claimants have now received arrears after almost a million claims reviewed against each decision

24 February, 2021

Provision for PIP assessments to be carried out by video in Scotland

New statutory instrument

24 February, 2021

Review finds that SSAC has used its independence to offer impartial advice to Ministers and stimulate the thought processes of DWP policy officials

While recognising the value of the Committee, Tailored Review's recommendations include that its Independent Work Programme should align more closely with the DWP's strategic objectives, and that it should increase the proportion of its members with experience of working within government

24 February, 2021

Scottish Government reports that 90 per cent of claimants surveyed were happy with their experience of Social Security Scotland

Results of survey of more than 3,000 claimants also highlight that more than four in five respondents agreed that they had been treated with dignity, fairness and respect

23 February, 2021

Cross-party group of MPs concludes that Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 has had a ‘devastating’ effect on the health and wellbeing of people on low incomes

New report sets out impacts of policies introduced by the Act, including the benefit cap, benefit freeze, two-child limit and abolition of the ESA work-related activity component

23 February, 2021

Government reiterates its commitment to change the six-month rule for terminally ill claimants, but says timetable for change will be set ‘in coming months’

Pressed to announce the results of government's review into how benefits system treats terminally ill, Minister says he is 'very sorry' for delays in bringing forward changes

23 February, 2021 Open access

Number of people claiming universal credit hits six million

New DWP statistics advise that caseload has almost doubled since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic