Welfare rights news and case law

10 May, 2016

More than half a million work capability assessments were cancelled or rearranged in the last year

Minister for Employment says increase follows new provider being set a far higher target for face-to-face assessments

9 May, 2016

Payment of DLA and PIP to no longer be suspended for hospital in-patients under 18

New statutory instrument

6 May, 2016

High Court rules, in council tax reduction case, that late appeals require a thorough assessment of all circumstances pertaining to the failure to appeal in time

[2016] EWHC 1017 (Admin)

6 May, 2016

New definition of ‘care leaver’ and ‘looked after by a local authority’ for universal credit purposes

New DWP guidance

6 May, 2016

Motability sees 516 per cent increase in income

Increase was the biggest amongst those charities that filed accounts between September 2015 and March 2016

5 May, 2016

Seven per cent of those currently affected by the benefit cap are carers

New DWP statistics also show that 66 per cent of capped households are single-parent families of which over three-quarters have a child aged under five

5 May, 2016

Proper meaning of ‘prompting’ and ‘social support’ in activity 9

CSPIP/35/2016

5 May, 2016

Northern Ireland (Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan) Act 2016 receives Royal Assent

Act makes provision for taking forward Stormont House Agreement

4 May, 2016

Weight to be given to evidence from abroad / use of medical evidence to establish age of a claimant

CPC/3082/2015

3 May, 2016

Local authorities allocated £16.5m additional funding to support cost of implementing welfare reform

New housing benefit guidance

3 May, 2016

New definition of ‘care leaver’ and ‘looked after by a local authority’ for universal credit purposes

New statutory instrument

3 May, 2016

Electronic claims for ESA and industrial injuries benefits

New statutory instrument

3 May, 2016

Cuts to universal credit work allowances undermine incentive to enter work, says Resolution Foundatin

New report puts forward options to focus universal credit on those in most need of support

30 April, 2016

Court of Appeal upholds that retrospective legislation relating to back-to-work scheme is 'incompatible' with ECHR but nevertheless legislation remains 'effective'

[2016] EWCA Civ 413

29 April, 2016

Descriptor 4e addresses the ability to get out of an 'unadapted' bath or shower / consideration of whether 'or' is disjunctive

CPIP/2094/2015

29 April, 2016

Computer records showing ‘trigger dates’ can provide adequate evidence of posting

CE/4448/2014

28 April, 2016

Care needs of a ‘normal’ child rather than ‘some’ children must be considered when assessing the ‘substantially in excess of normal requirements’ test

CDLA/3612/2015

28 April, 2016

Third commencement order issued in relation to the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015

New statutory rule commences provisions including those required for the introduction of universal credit and personal independence payment

28 April, 2016

Action to take where a First-tier Tribunal has made inconsistent decisions about capital in respect of income support and housing benefit but only the housing benefit decision is appealed

CH/5066/2014