Welfare rights news and case law

6 November, 2019

Scottish Social Security Committee calls for review of Scottish Welfare Fund funding provision

Real terms decrease in funding allocation and significant pressures from inflation and rising demand highlighted in pre-budget scrutiny report

5 November, 2019

Government rejects Work and Pensions Committee’s key recommendations to strengthen welfare safety net

DWP response to Committee's thematic inquiry disagrees with its calls for more generous benefit uprating and benefit cap rates, local housing allowance rates and universal credit deductions policy

5 November, 2019

Review of housing benefit claimants’ self-employed earnings leads to annual saving of £63 million

DWP reports on review of cases where reported self-employed earnings had not changed over period of 12 months

5 November, 2019

Select Committee expresses ‘disappointment’ at government’s failure to adequately respond to its report on carer’s allowance overpayments

Government's response gives little hope that the DWP has even understood what the problems are, let alone that it might do anything to end the misery it continues to inflict, says Committee Chair

5 November, 2019

Failure to consider impact of court reforms on vulnerable users risks undermining public confidence in justice system, say MPs

Public Acounts Committee also expresses concern that, although HMCTS has extended reform timetable to seven years, it is still struggling to deliver all it promised

5 November, 2019

Social Security Advisory Committee consults on whether Motability scheme is best way to support mobility needs of disabled people

Consultation launched in light of fact that two-thirds of eligible disabled people are not accessing the scheme

5 November, 2019

Government announces increase in the maximum amount for additional expenses within the funeral expenses payment from Spring 2020

Payment, which covers expenses such as a coffin, flowers and funeral directors' fees, will rise from £700 to £1,000

5 November, 2019

Contradiction between tribunal’s decision notice and statement of reasons and whether set aside complied with Procedure Rules

CPC/532/2019 & CPC/533/2019

5 November, 2019

Average weekly income of people using food banks is only £50 after paying rent

Hunger in the UK isn’t about food, says Trussell Trust, it’s about people not having enough money

5 November, 2019

69 per cent of single parent households subject to the benefit cap in Northern Ireland have at least one child under the age of five

New Department for Communities statistics also show that 85 per cent of capped households are single parents

4 November, 2019

Government’s justification for two-child limit ‘does not stand up to scrutiny’ and policy should be reversed

Policy has unintended consequences that 'no government should be willing to accept', says Work and Pensions Select Committee

4 November, 2019

Social Security benefit and pension up-rating for 2020/2021 confirmed

Work and Pensions Secretary announces 1.7 per cent rise in working age benefits and 3.9 per cent increase to state pensions

4 November, 2019

Tax credits, child benefit and guardian’s allowance up-rating 2020/2021

Chief Secretary to the Treasury announces that most tax credits and thresholds will increase by 1.7 per cent

4 November, 2019

President of Appeal Tribunals urges Department for Communities to consider seeking GP reports at early stages of all disability benefit appeals

Annual report on decision making also calls for presenting officers to review medical reports prior to hearings

4 November, 2019

Commencement of Scotland’s devolved maternity, funeral and heating expenses payments

New statutory instrument amends date that payment provisions come into force

4 November, 2019

Dupuytren’s contracture added to list of prescribed diseases for which industrial injuries disablement benefit is payable

New DWP guidance

1 November, 2019

Welfare rights

Scottish Social Security Committee calls for review of Scottish Welfare Fund funding provision

Real terms decrease in funding allocation and significant pressures from inflation and rising demand highlighted in pre-budget scrutiny report

Government rejects Work and Pensions Committee’s key recommendations to strengthen welfare safety net

Review of housing benefit claimants’ self-employed earnings leads to annual saving of £63 million

Select Committee expresses ‘disappointment’ at government’s failure to adequately respond to its report on carer’s allowance overpayments

Failure to consider impact of court reforms on vulnerable users risks undermining public confidence in justice system, say MPs

Social Security Advisory Committee consults on whether Motability scheme is best way to support mobility needs of disabled people

Government announces increase in the maximum amount for additional expenses within the funeral expenses payment from Spring 2020

Payment, which covers expenses such as a coffin, flowers and funeral directors' fees, will rise from £700 to £1,000

Contradiction between tribunal’s decision notice and statement of reasons and whether set aside complied with Procedure Rules

Average weekly income of people using food banks is only £50 after paying rent

69 per cent of single parent households subject to the benefit cap in Northern Ireland have at least one child under the age of five

Government’s justification for two-child limit ‘does not stand up to scrutiny’ and policy should be reversed

Social Security benefit and pension up-rating for 2020/2021 confirmed

Tax credits, child benefit and guardian’s allowance up-rating 2020/2021

President of Appeal Tribunals urges Department for Communities to consider seeking GP reports at early stages of all disability benefit appeals

Commencement of Scotland’s devolved maternity, funeral and heating expenses payments

Dupuytren’s contracture added to list of prescribed diseases for which industrial injuries disablement benefit is payable

More than £100 million paid out as universal credit advance payments during May 2019

DWP announces new £10 million fund to help vulnerable people claim universal credit

Proposed court reform could compromise justice for vulnerable people particularly those that are unrepresented, MPs warn