Welfare rights news and case law

18 January, 2017

Treatment of ESA when claiming police injury benefit

New statutory instrument

17 January, 2017

Damian Green clarifies ‘subtle differences’ in interpretation of benefit cap statistics

Secretary of State writes to Work and Pensions Committee following November 2016 meeting

17 January, 2017

DWP publishes results of 2015/2016 ‘claimant service and experience’ survey

Overall satisfaction levels varied from 76 per cent among PIP claimants to 97 per cent of state pension claimants

17 January, 2017

For almost a year Concentrix consistently failed to achieve over half of its performance targets

New report from the National Audit Office also finds that by September 2016 there was a backlog of 181,000 cases

17 January, 2017

Scottish Government launches consultation on flexible payment options for universal credit

Twice monthly payments and direct payment of housing costs to landlords will give claimants 'more choice and control', says Social Security Minister

17 January, 2017

Time spent on zero hours contracts and working abroad can count as employment for the purposes of the benefit cap grace period

New DWP guidance

17 January, 2017

Northern Ireland Assembly approves regulations to mitigate the bedroom tax

Payments will be made automatically, every four weeks throughout the mitigation period until March 2020

16 January, 2017

86 per cent of council tenants in receipt of universal credit are in rent arrears

New research from the National Federation of ALMOs also reveals that average arrears have increased to £615 for council tenants on universal credit

13 January, 2017

Scottish Government announces flexible payment options for universal credit claimants

Social Security Minister outlines how claimants will be able to opt for twice monthly payments and for direct payment of housing costs to private or social sector landlords

12 January, 2017

Government announces extension of bereavement support payment period from 12 to 18 months

However, Work and Pensions Minister also confirms that payment will be made at a reduced rate on its introduction in April 2017

11 January, 2017

Payments to mitigate the bedroom tax in Northern Ireland may be at risk

Potential dissolution of the Northern Ireland Assembly could stop regulations being passed to make additional funding available

11 January, 2017

Social security reciprocal arrangements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

New DWP guidance

11 January, 2017

Requirement for tribunals to submit all medical evidence to critical analysis / when should DLA evidence be required in determining a PIP transfer appeal

CPIP/1042/2016

10 January, 2017

Action a tribunal should take where Secretary of State has failed in his rule 24(4)(b) duty to provide all relevant documents

CDLA/3501/2015

6 January, 2017

Past presence test for AA and DLA and aggregation of residence in other Member States / Stewart judgment requires a link with the Member State, not the State’s social security system

CDLA/373/2016

5 January, 2017

Whether a nebuliser can be an aid for the purposes of administering medication

CPIP/2916/2016

Welfare rights

Treatment of ESA when claiming police injury benefit

New statutory instrument

Damian Green clarifies ‘subtle differences’ in interpretation of benefit cap statistics

DWP publishes results of 2015/2016 ‘claimant service and experience’ survey

For almost a year Concentrix consistently failed to achieve over half of its performance targets

Scottish Government launches consultation on flexible payment options for universal credit

Time spent on zero hours contracts and working abroad can count as employment for the purposes of the benefit cap grace period

Northern Ireland Assembly approves regulations to mitigate the bedroom tax

Payments will be made automatically, every four weeks throughout the mitigation period until March 2020

86 per cent of council tenants in receipt of universal credit are in rent arrears

Scottish Government announces flexible payment options for universal credit claimants

Government announces extension of bereavement support payment period from 12 to 18 months

Payments to mitigate the bedroom tax in Northern Ireland may be at risk

Social security reciprocal arrangements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Requirement for tribunals to submit all medical evidence to critical analysis / when should DLA evidence be required in determining a PIP transfer appeal

Local authorities in England and Wales spent 38 per cent of yearly DHP allocation in first six months of 2016/2017

Housing benefit and pension credit entitlement restricted to 4 weeks for temporary absences from Northern Ireland

Definition of ‘blind’ for the higher rate mobility component of DLA when claim is based upon being ‘blind and deaf'

Action a tribunal should take where Secretary of State has failed in his rule 24(4)(b) duty to provide all relevant documents

Past presence test for AA and DLA and aggregation of residence in other Member States / Stewart judgment requires a link with the Member State, not the State’s social security system

Whether a nebuliser can be an aid for the purposes of administering medication