Welfare rights news

24 March, 2016

Average time on benefits reduces by only 10 days following work experience

DWP publishes new report on the impact of work experience on employment and benefit outcomes for young JSA claimants

24 March, 2016

Earlier first payment date for some terminally ill claimants transferring from DLA to PIP

New DWP guidance

24 March, 2016

More than two thirds of Help to Work participants spend less than thirteen weeks in work in the following year

New DWP statistics

23 March, 2016

Value of outstanding housing benefit overpayments ‘continues to follow an increasing trend’

DWP publishes new statistics covering first two quarters of 2015/2016

23 March, 2016

Reciprocal agreements and the new state pension

New regulations issued in Northern Ireland

22 March, 2016

Payments to mitigate welfare reform in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

22 March, 2016

Scottish Government outlines plans to replace the UK Government’s Work Choice and Work Programme schemes

New measures will operate from April 2017

22 March, 2016

Amendment of employment and support allowance time limiting and linking rules in Northern Ireland

New statutory rules

22 March, 2016

Further roll-out of the universal credit Digital Service

New statutory instrument

22 March, 2016

Transitional arrangements for introduction of new state pension and bereavement support payment

New statutory instrument

21 March, 2016

Government confirms that it will not proceed with cuts to personal independence payment

New Secretary of State for Work and Pensions makes statement in the Commons

19 March, 2016

Stephen Crabb appointed as new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Appointment of former Secretary of State for Wales follows resignation yesterday of Iain Duncan Smith

18 March, 2016

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions resigns

Iain Duncan Smith says that he has reluctantly come to believe that the latest changes to disability benefits and the context in which they’ve been made are a compromise too far

18 March, 2016

Work and Pensions Select Committee launches inquiry on early drawing of the state pension

Policy would allow some women to choose to take a state pension sooner than scheduled in return for lower weekly payments for the duration of their retirement

18 March, 2016

Interpretation of the chewing or swallowing food or drink ESA descriptor

New DWP guidance

18 March, 2016

‘Substantial risk’ and limited capability for work-related activity

DWP issues new guidance to universal credit and ESA decision makers

18 March, 2016

New commencement order issued in relation to the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016

New statutory instrument

18 March, 2016

Tax credit ‘income rise disregard’ to be reduced to £2,500

New statutory instrument

17 March, 2016

Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 receives Royal Assent

Amongst other measures, Act makes provision in relation to child poverty measures, benefit cap reductions, a four year benefit freeze, cuts to ESA, universal credit and tax credits and support for mortgage interest