Welfare rights news and case law

17 February, 2016

330,000 sanctions applied to jobseeker's allowance claimants in year to September 2015, down from 710,000 in the previous year

New DWP statistics also show that over 10 per cent are high level sanctions

17 February, 2016

Less than 200,000 people were claiming universal credit as of 14 January 2016

However, new DWP statistics show that the average number of claims per week is now over 10,000

17 February, 2016

Reciprocal agreements and the new state pension

New statutory instrument

17 February, 2016

Anxiety may be the sole cause of verbal communication difficulties for the purposes of Activity 7 albeit rarely / meaning of 'complex' verbal or written information

CPIP/2301/2015

17 February, 2016

Delay in mandatory reconsideration / appeal process meant claimant was denied reasonable opportunity to present his case

CPIP/2329/2015

16 February, 2016

Lung cancer and diesel exhaust emissions in miners

Industrial Injuries Advisory Council review concludes that threshold for prescription has not been reached

16 February, 2016

Tribunal failed to properly consider ESA regulation 29(2)(b) by indicating type of work claimant may be able to do

CE/538/2015

16 February, 2016

Use of teeth to chew or swallow food

CE/2156/2015

16 February, 2016

Waiting period for help with housing costs increased to 39 weeks in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

16 February, 2016

Implementation of welfare reforms in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

15 February, 2016

Universal credit and help with NHS costs in Wales

New statutory instrument

15 February, 2016

Iain Duncan Smith welcomes government announcement of measures to 'fully embed' the link between employment and mental health

We want to offer people with mental health conditions as much support as possible to help them get back to work, says Work and Pensions Secretary

15 February, 2016

Independent review calls for increase in the level of maternity allowance paid to the self-employed

'Choosing to be self-employed should not mean that people are disadvantaged in the support that they receive from government'

15 February, 2016

Extension of the ‘Fraud and Error Reduction Incentive Scheme’

New housing benefit guidance

12 February, 2016

Refusal of widowed parent's allowance to woman who was not married to her deceased partner is unjustifiable discrimination

[2016] NIQB 11

12 February, 2016

Welfare Reform Bill risks creating a ‘lost generation’ of children growing up in poverty

Situation is 'utterly unacceptable', says chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group

12 February, 2016

Home Responsibilities Protection only payable for ‘non-qualifying years’ for state retirement pension

CHR/1092/2013

11 February, 2016

DWP confirms details of universal credit roll-out to the full digital service

Phases 1 and 2 will take place between May and December 2016

11 February, 2016

Ensuring parity of legislation for social security, child support and pensions between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

New statutory instrument