Welfare rights news and case law

20 April, 2020 Open access

Housing benefit entitlement for prisoners on temporary release due to coronavirus outbreak

New DWP guidance confirms that relaxation of entitlement rules will expire eight months from 13 March 2020

20 April, 2020

Contact point for children’s school, GP, and dentist cannot be ‘ultimately determinative’ of the person who has main responsibility for tax credits purposes

AB v Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (TC)
[2019] UKUT 410 (AAC)
CSTC/174/2019

18 April, 2020 Open access

Government publishes further details of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme ahead of it opening for applications next week

HMRC to launch new online service on 20 April 2020 to support employers and furloughed employees impacted by COVID-19

17 April, 2020 Open access

Government announces one-month extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, to the end of June 2020

With the coronavirus lockdown measures being kept in place for a further period, it's the right decision to extend the furlough scheme to provide clarity, says Chancellor

17 April, 2020 Open access

Almost half of all adults expect their financial position to get worse over the next 12 months as a result of the coronavirus outbreak

New analysis by the Office for National Statistics also highlights that a third of people think it will be more than six months before their life returns to normal

17 April, 2020 Open access

Government issues further guidance to local authorities on implementing the £500 million COVID-19 council tax hardship fund

MHCLG Council Tax information letter clarifies that hardship fund discount should not be applied on a pro-rata basis, and it may be subject to reassessment if council tax liability subsequently reduces below amount awarded

17 April, 2020 Open access

LHA rates must be increased to protect private renters from ‘spiralling debt and needless evictions’ during COVID-19 outbreak, Shelter says

Recommendation responds to new polling data that estimates 1.7 million renters expect to lose their jobs in the next three months, many of whom will face large rent shortfalls without increases in universal credit LHA rates

17 April, 2020 Open access

Extension of entitlement to statutory sick pay in Northern Ireland to those who are ‘shielding’ as a result of the coronavirus outbreak

New statutory rule

16 April, 2020 Open access

Social Security Scotland confirms extension of benefit application time limits for devolved benefits where delay is due to COVID-19

Amended rules apply to late applications for Best Start grant payments, young carer grants and funeral support payments

16 April, 2020 Open access

New universal credit claimants can now verify their identity through Government Gateway

DWP says using that this method will help speed up the claim process for those who have used the Gateway in the last 12 months

16 April, 2020

Payments to local authorities for the Verify Earnings and Pension Alerts service 2020/2021

New DWP guidance

15 April, 2020 Open access

Extension of entitlement to statutory sick pay to those who are ‘shielding’ as a result of the coronavirus outbreak

New statutory instrument

15 April, 2020 Open access

Government announces extension of eligibility cut-off date for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Employers will now be able to claim for furloughed employees that were employed and on their PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020

15 April, 2020 Open access

Government issues ‘Treasury Direction’ setting out the legal framework for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Made under provisions in the Coronavirus Act 2020, the new Direction requires HMRC to be responsible for the payment and management of amounts to be paid under the Scheme

14 April, 2020 Open access

Triple lock guarantee for pensioners should be abandoned to ensure that economic recovery from coronavirus crisis is fair to working-age households

Society is rightly making sacrifices to protect its elderly now, says thinktank, creating a clear case for 'intergenerational reciprocation' in years ahead

14 April, 2020

Allocation of additional funding to local authorities to support the costs of implementing welfare reform changes in 2020/2021

New guidance confirms details of more than £27 million being provided to meet 'New Burdens' incurred by councils

14 April, 2020 Open access

HMCTS reports dramatic increase in use of audio and video technology in courts and tribunals as a result of the coronavirus outbreak

New figures highlight that around 85 per cent of hearings in England and Wales were held remotely on 6 April 2020

11 April, 2020 Open access

Changes needed to government’s COVID-19 employment support schemes to ensure people don’t fall through the gaps

Citizens Advice welcomes 'unprecedented interventions' that have been made, but says that data from advisers suggests that more needs to be done

11 April, 2020

Labour Party confirms appointments to frontbench Work and Pensions team

Announcement follows appointment of Jonathan Reynolds as Shadow DWP Secretary