Welfare rights news and case law

2 September, 2020

Scottish Government introduces Bill to incorporate UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into domestic law

Bill will ensure that children's rights are always 'respected, protected and fulfilled' by public authorities, says Deputy First Minister

2 September, 2020

Ending DWP’s temporary power to enact social security legislation on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly

New statutory instrument

2 September, 2020

DWP confirms that it plans to have 25 Senior Safeguarding Leaders in place by Autumn 2020

However, Minister declines to comment on progress of Safeguarding Policy Review 'due to current legal proceedings'

1 September, 2020 Open access

Poverty and Inequality Commission questions whether Scottish Welfare Fund has been used to maximum benefit during coronavirus pandemic

Highlighting that only 15 per cent of annual budget was used during first quarter of 2020/2021, Commission makes recommendations to enable Fund to operate more effectively

1 September, 2020 Open access

Number of new PIP claims in Northern Ireland reduced by more than 50 per cent in May 2020 compared to same month last year

New Department for Communities statistics, that cover initial period of coronavirus outbreak, also show a reduction of almost 90 per cent in mandatory reconsideration requests

1 September, 2020 Open access

Scottish Social Security Committee launches inquiry into role of Scotland’s social security system in social and economic recovery from COVID-19

Committee seeks 'innovative and workable' solutions to combat the impact of the pandemic

1 September, 2020 Open access

Welsh Government announces £2.8 million funding to help local authorities fund increased demand for council tax reduction

New funding will replace income reductions suffered by councils as a result of increased number of households becoming entitled to the benefit since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

28 August, 2020 Open access

New self-isolation payment scheme is so limited it will still leave millions of families facing financial problems

'Paltry payments' will not make the difference needed, says the TUC

28 August, 2020

Whether landord’s failure to instigate possession proceedings on grounds of rent arrears meant that tenancy was non-commercial / whether a previously commercial tenancy can become non-commercial

Warwick District Council v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and CH (HB)
[2020] UKUT 240 AAC
CH/1839/2017

27 August, 2020 Open access

People with coronavirus and their contacts to be paid to self-isolate

Self-isolation payments to come into effect from 1 September 2020 for those in receipt of universal credit or working tax credit

27 August, 2020

DWP continuing to experience problems in dealing with claims for legacy benefits from claimants in receipt of an SDP as part of a housing benefit claim

As a result of ongoing problems, DWP advises that a new process is to be put in place to remove the need for it to make phone calls to local authorities, or request information from the claimant direct

27 August, 2020

Non-UK EEA nationals paid £20 billion more in income tax and national insurance than they were entitled to in tax credits and child benefit in 2018/2019

New HMRC statistics also highlight that non-EEA nationals paid almost £18 billion more, £2 billion higher than the previous year

27 August, 2020 Open access

Extension of SSP eligibility in Northern Ireland to people who are self-isolating prior to being admitted to hospital for planned or elective surgery

New statutory rule

26 August, 2020 Open access

Coronavirus pandemic has led to ‘huge increase’ in number of claims for universal credit in Northern Ireland

New Department for Communities statistics show that number of claims rose to peak of more than 35,000 in March 2020, a five-fold increase on average number prior to pandemic

26 August, 2020 Open access

Number of households subject to benefit cap in Northern Ireland has ‘increased significantly’ due to effect of COVID-19 on universal credit caseload

New Department for Communities statistics show increase of more than 40 per cent in number of households capped between March and May 2020

26 August, 2020 Open access

Fair Start Scotland ‘start rate’ increased to more than 80 per cent during COVID-19 lockdown

New statistical analysis suggests that increase may be linked to 'changing referral sources', with the DWP having paused referrals during the pandemic

25 August, 2020 Open access

Extension of SSP eligibility to people who are self-isolating prior to being admitted to hospital for planned or elective surgery

New statutory instrument

25 August, 2020 Open access

Without a radical change in policy direction, the financial situation for low-income families is likely to get worse before it gets better

As the Government’s COVID-19 emergency support schemes are tapered away, more help will be needed for struggling families who have lost jobs or taken income drops, says CPAG and the Church of England

25 August, 2020

Access to income-related benefits for family members of people of Northern Ireland

New DWP guidance