Welfare rights news and case law

17 June, 2020 Open access

Carers UK calls for £20 per week increase in carer’s allowance to match the rise in universal credit

New research shows that almost 230,000 unpaid carers have had someone in their household go hungry during coronavirus pandemic

17 June, 2020

Carál Ní Chuilín replaces Deirdre Hargey as Communities Minister in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Assembly Deputy Speaker confirms that former Chair of Procedures Committee appointed following Ms Hargey's resignation

17 June, 2020 Open access

Minister confirms that DWP is ‘in the process of’ reviewing the temporary suspension of reviews and reassessments for sickness and disability benefits

Written answer in parliament says next steps will be confirmed 'as soon as possible'

16 June, 2020 Open access

More than 3 million new claims for universal credit have been made since start of coronavirus lockdown

New DWP statistics also highlight that more than 100,000 claims were made in the last week, an increase of 7 per cent on the previous week

16 June, 2020 Open access

Office for National Statistics confirms that claimant count for universal credit and jobseeker’s allowance has more than doubled since March 2020

New labour market statistics show that number of people claiming benefits principally because of unemployment increased to 2.8 million in May 2020 compared to 1.2 million in March 2020

16 June, 2020 Open access

High Court rules that government decisions on Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and changes to statutory sick pay were not unlawful in relation to ‘limb b workers’

Adiatu & Anor, R (On the Application Of) v Her Majesty's Treasury [2020] EWHC 1554 (Admin)

15 June, 2020

High Court rules that exclusion of mixed-age couples from pension credit is not discriminatory or in breach of the public sector equality duty

Prichard, R (on the application of) v The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2020] EWHC 1495 (Admin)

15 June, 2020 Open access

‘No recourse to public funds’ condition for migrants is ‘long-established’ and applies ‘in order to protect public funds’, says Prime Minister

Home Secretary will confirm the numbers currently subject to NRPF and the numbers applying to have the condition lifted, Mr Johnson adds

15 June, 2020 Open access

Scotland’s Housing Minister calls for urgent action from UK Government to support tenants affected by coronavirus pandemic

Letter to Work and Pensions Secretary includes call to relax benefit backdating rules and extend period of payment for those who might not have realised they were eligible

12 June, 2020 Open access

More than 70 per cent of universal credit ‘declarations’ made in the early phase of the coronavirus lockdown resulted in a payment of benefit

DWP Minister reports that the proportion of new claims which generated a payment actually rose in the first month of the COVID-19 emergency

12 June, 2020 Open access

DWP issues new universal credit guidance in relation to coronavirus self-employment and reclaims regulations

New regulations clarify treatment of SEISS and CJRS payments in the assessment of income and capital, and make provision for treating claimants as re-claiming benefit for up to five assessment periods

12 June, 2020 Open access

LGA calls for temporary removal of the ‘no recourse to public funds’ condition during the coronavirus crisis

Change needed to help reduce public health risks and pressures on homelessness services by enabling vulnerable people to access welfare benefits

12 June, 2020

Minister confirms there is no ‘requirement’ to use a DS1500 form to supply evidence to support a benefit claim under terminal illness rules

However, written answer in parliament says supplying evidence on the form 'remains the quickest and most appropriate route to gather evidence to support entitlement'

11 June, 2020 Open access

Government confirms more than £60m of additional local welfare assistance funding for councils in England

Extra discretionary support made available in response to 'extraordinary circumstances' of the coronavirus pandemic

11 June, 2020

DWP issues new guidance on temporary absence abroad and cash sickness benefits

New memos, relating to PIP, DLA and carer's allowance, respond to the Upper Tribunal's judgment in KC v SSWP

11 June, 2020

Social Security tribunal appeal receipts in three months to March 2020 decreased by more than a third compared to same period last year

New MoJ statistics show that fall in receipts has been driven by reduction in both ESA and PIP appeals

11 June, 2020 Open access

More than half of new universal credit claimants are facing hardship waiting for their first benefit payment, says Citizens Advice

Survey of those that have applied for benefit since the lockdown finds that claimants haven’t been able to afford essentials like food and heating and/or have borrowed money from family and friends

11 June, 2020 Open access

Number of new PIP claims reduced by almost 40 per cent in April 2020 compared to same time last year

New DWP statistics, that cover initial period of coronavirus outbreak, also show reduction of more than 40 per cent in change of circumstances requests

11 June, 2020

Citizens’ Basic Income pilot is ‘desirable’ though is not without significant challenges, say Scottish councils

Proposed model for 3-year pilot would aim to understand impacts on poverty and unemployment, health and financial wellbeing, and experience of the social security system