Welfare rights news and case law

27 March, 2020 Open access

HMCTS Chief Executive announces changes to operation of courts and tribunals buildings during coronavirus outbreak

Letter to stakeholders confirms that, from Monday, in-person hearings will be held in 157 buildings, 124 buildings will support video and telephone hearings, and remaining 89 courts and tribunals will be suspended

27 March, 2020 Open access

Increase of basic allowance of working tax credit for 2020/2021 in response to coronavirus

Coronavirus Act 2020 increases allowance from £1,995 to £3,040

27 March, 2020

Uprating of, and miscellaneous amendments to, funeral expense assistance and young carers grants in Scotland

New statutory instrument

27 March, 2020

Amendments to procedure and allocation of functions for First-tier Tribunal in Scotland

New statutory instrument

27 March, 2020

Urgent action needed to prevent rising child poverty leading to a longer-term public health disaster, says CPAG

Annual poverty statistics always make grim reading but this year, on the tenth anniversary of the now abolished Child Poverty Act passing into law, it is grimmer still

27 March, 2020

Continuation of ESA and housing benefit transitional addition in Northern Ireland beyond 4 April 2020

New statutory rule issued in relation to claimants receiving additional ESA following conversion from previous incapacity benefits

27 March, 2020

Local authorities to receive more than £1 million in additional funding for costs of administering SDP Gateway in 2019/2020

New HB Circular also provides breakdown of funding by local authority

26 March, 2020 Open access

Chancellor announces new self-employment income support scheme for those affected by the coronavirus outbreak

Taxable HMRC grant will provide support at 80 per cent of average monthly profits over the last 3 years, up to £2,500 a month

26 March, 2020

Secretary of State confirms £36 million funding for ‘DWP Excellence Plan’ to increase investment in safeguarding

Dr Coffey says that Department will look back at how it has served claimants to 'learn lessons and improve processes'

26 March, 2020 Open access

Valuation Office Agency sets out LHA rates for 2020/2021 following Chancellor's announcement of new package of financial support for people affected by coronavirus

Figures take into account changes as instructed by the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations 2020

26 March, 2020 Open access

Discretionary support grants for those impacted by the coronavirus outbreak in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

26 March, 2020 Open access

Upper Tribunal Chamber President issues Direction to stay all tribunal proceedings for 21 days

Response to coronavirus also advises that all time limits in any current proceedings should be extended over the same period

26 March, 2020

Benefit uprating and social security contribution rates for 2020/2021

New DWP guidance

25 March, 2020 Open access

Coronavirus Bill completes its passage through both Houses of Parliament and receives Royal Assent

Act includes provision relating to statutory sick pay, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, tenants' rights, and local authority duties under the Care Act

25 March, 2020 Open access

Verification process for universal credit is facing ‘capacity challenges’ as almost half a million claims are made in just nine days

While online journey is holding up 'brilliantly well', DWP Permanent Secretary tells Select Committee he doesn't know how the next stages are going to progress

25 March, 2020 Open access

Making universal credit advances non-recoverable is ‘operationally not feasible’

Giving evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee about the DWP's response to COVID-19, Secretary of State says there is also a policy question about whether it would be right at this time

25 March, 2020 Open access

Department for Communities in Northern Ireland suspends reviews and assessments for health and disability benefits for three months as a resuilt of COVID-19 pandemic

Communities Minister also announces that all routine appointments at Jobs and Benefits offices will be postponed, nobody will be penalised as a result of not attending the office, and compliance and benefit review interviews will cease

25 March, 2020 Open access

Scottish Government calls for Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to be extended to the self-employed

Letter to Chancellor also urges him to make statutory sick pay more widely available and increase its value

25 March, 2020 Open access

Resolution Foundation calls on government to raise contributory JSA and ESA rates and reform universal credit capital limits in response to coronavirus outbreak

Changes needed to assist those who are unable to access universal credit under current rules on income and capital