Welfare rights news and case law

24 January, 2018

Suitability of a consultation in relation to a PIP claim should be taken into account in considering whether the claimant had ‘good reason’ for failure to attend

CPIP/1567/2017

23 January, 2018

Miscellaneous amendments to universal credit

New statutory instrument legislates both for changes announced in the Autumn Budget 2017 and other previously unannounced amendments

23 January, 2018

Scottish Government launches consultation on new Scottish Tribunal Chamber to hear devolved social security appeals

Existing procedural rules for both the First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal have been used as a starting point for the new Chamber

23 January, 2018

Definition of 'meaningful mark' in 'Cannot use a pen or pencil to make a meaningful mark with either hand’

CE/1982/2017

23 January, 2018

Duty of tribunal to decide whether issue is raised by appeal and to give reasons for exercising its discretion to consider issue that is not raised

CPIP/1551/2017

22 January, 2018

Government should explain why the high taper rate of 63 per cent in universal credit is 'optimal', says Treasury Committee

Report on Autumn Budget 2017 also recommends the option of fortnightly payments to ease cashflow challenges

22 January, 2018

Scottish Government to establish independent Scottish Commission on Social Security

Commission will scrutinise the new social security system and ensure it lives up to expectations

22 January, 2018

Changes to the Funeral Expenses Payments Scheme

New statutory instrument

19 January, 2018

Government announces it will not appeal High Court judgment that found PIP mobility amendment regulations unlawful

Secretary of State also says earlier decision relating to psychological distress and mobility will also be implemented

19 January, 2018

Scottish government plans to introduce rights for claimants in Scotland to have a 'supporter' with them during medical assessments

Social Security Minister describes the move as proof that Scotland will ‘do things differently’

18 January, 2018

Whether a private pension paid direct to a third party counts as the claimant’s income when calculating pension credit

CPC/384/2017

17 January, 2018

Further roll-out of universal credit in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule provides for introduction of benefit in specified postcode areas from 17 January 2018 to 7 March 2018

16 January, 2018

Uprating of war pensions and allowances 2018/2019

New DWP guidance

15 January, 2018

Department for Communities launches independent review of PIP in Northern Ireland

Evidence invited from organisations and individuals as to how the assessment process is working for both new claims and DLA reassessments

15 January, 2018

Both Secretary of State and representatives should provide relevant evidence to the tribunal / requirement for tribunal to explain different outcome on PIP renewal claim

CPIP/2589/2017

15 January, 2018

Further roll-out of universal credit in Northern Ireland

Department for Work and Pensions publishes postcodes where universal credit will roll out from 17 January to 7 March 2018

12 January, 2018

Peter Schofield appointed Permanent Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions

DWP Director General of Finance to take up new role following retirement of Sir Robert Devereux

12 January, 2018

MPs raise concerns that HMRC is not doing enough to support vulnerable tax credits claimants as they transfer to universal credit

New report from the Public Accounts Committee also warns that tax credits error and fraud has risen and is only going to get worse

12 January, 2018

Standard of reasons required when tribunal finds an overpayment recoverable for a failure to furnish information, and when imposing a civil penalty

CIS/1094/2017