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18 October, 2018

55 per cent of universal credit claimants are having deductions taken from their award in respect of debts to the DWP

Minister for Employment confirms that Department will consider reducing or suspending recovery of these debts if there is hardship

17 October, 2018

DWP expects to pay £970 million in ESA underpayments to around 180,000 claimants

New ad hoc analysis also estimates that, once claims are corrected, DWP will pay £60 million in higher awards in 2018/2019 and £130 million in 2019/2020

17 October, 2018

Bill proposing to improve cold weather payments to take better account of the location of claimants receives first reading

Secretary of State would be required to investigate alternative methods of calculating cold weather in each postcode district to better reflect variations in topography or weather conditions

17 October, 2018

Update of EU legislation references in social security legislation in advance of the UK’s exit from the European Union

New statutory instruments

16 October, 2018

DWP considering delay to universal credit managed migration

Leaked documents seen by BBC also show proposals to mitigate effects of migration including continuation of legacy benefits for two weeks after claim

16 October, 2018

DWP confirms introduction of Verify Earnings and Pensions service for carer's allowance from September 2018

New system allows benefit awards to be 'updated far more quickly', says Minister for Disabled People

16 October, 2018

1.2 million people on universal credit in September 2018

New DWP statistics also show that 45 per cent of claimants in 'searching for work' conditionality group, down from 55 per cent in September 2017

15 October, 2018

At least 28 local authorities in England have closed their welfare assistance scheme completely

New research estimates that funding has reduced from £172 million in 2013/2014 to just £46.6 million in 2017/2018

12 October, 2018

Work and Pensions Committee to investigate government's approach to the managed migration of legacy benefit claimants to universal credit

First steps of inquiry include inviting Employment Minister Alok Sharma to give oral evidence urgently before draft regulations are laid before Parliament

12 October, 2018

Treatment of benefit arrears and capital disregard rules for universal credit and other income-related benefits

New DWP guidance

12 October, 2018

Independent Case Examiner draws attention to DWP's failure to make promised telephone call backs to claimants

Annual report says that while the issue has not been raised as the main part of any complaint, it is a service matter that DWP could be getting right

12 October, 2018

Changes to the time limit for claiming a Sure Start maternity grant

New DWP guidance

11 October, 2018

Some people will be worse off on universal credit, says Work and Pensions Secretary

However, Esther McVey refuses to confirm reports of Cabinet discussion on expected level of losses

11 October, 2018

Government rejects recommendation to pay universal credit awards to main carer where claimants have dependent children

Response to Select Committee report on universal credit and domestic abuse also commits to support the Scottish Government to carry out a split payment pilot

11 October, 2018

DWP publishes first statistics on Specialist Employability Support programme

Figures include that, of the 2,670 starts between September 2015 and February 2017,15 per cent achieved a job lasting 26 weeks

10 October, 2018

Private sector to take over responsibility for government's online identity verification system used for universal credit

Minister confirms that contracts for gov.uk Verify have been signed 'with a number of private sector identity providers'

10 October, 2018

Minister confirms that a further 250,000 claimants are to be assessed for underpayment of ESA following agreement to fully backdate arrears

Department aims to complete the review of the original 300,000 cases 'early next year'

10 October, 2018

Healthy Start Vouchers to be replaced by Best Start Foods in Scotland

Introduction of pre-paid digital smartcards aims to 'reduce stigma and increase uptake'

10 October, 2018

Time limit for claiming a Sure Start maternity grant extended to six months in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule