Welfare rights news and case law

15 November, 2022

Extension of Scottish child payment ‘shows the UK Chancellor that prioritising those on low incomes is possible’

JRF estimates that extending £1,300 per year payment to the rest of the UK would benefit more than 5 million children

15 November, 2022

One in eight households on universal credit received no payment in each of the three months to August 2022

More than half a million households had nil awards as a result of adjustments such as sanctions or the benefit cap or because of recent earnings changes

14 November, 2022

Miscellaneous amendments to Scottish social security benefits including in relation to the extension of Scottish child payment to children between six and 15

New statutory instrument

11 November, 2022

Work and Pensions Secretary ‘disappointed’ that PCS members have voted for industrial action

Proposals put forward by union are 'regrettably neither reasonable nor affordable', says Mr Stride

10 November, 2022

Commencement of automatic 12 month extension of PIP awards awaiting review delayed until ‘early to mid-December’

DWP advises that anyone needing a certificate of entitlement for confirmation of their PIP award before then should contact the helpline

10 November, 2022

Trussell Trust reports that number of emergency food parcels distributed between April and September 2022 was up by a third on same period in 2021

New analysis also shows that number of working people needing to turn to food banks is increasing, with one in five referrals relating to people in working households

9 November, 2022

Claimants are not required to satisfy all of the elements of the definition of ‘take nutrition’ in order to score points under PIP daily living descriptor 2(b)

CW v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (PIP)
[2022] UKUT 281 (AAC)
UA-2021-000241-PIP

9 November, 2022

Earnings received in an assessment period are to be taken into account when assessing universal credit for that period even where they relate to an earlier period and were paid late

Department for Communities-v-OS (UC)
[2022] NICom 29
C2/21-22(UC)

9 November, 2022

First-tier Tribunal gave adequate reasons for finding that claimant experienced work-aggravated asthma rather than work-caused occupational asthma

NP v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (II)
[2022] UKUT 279 (AAC)
UA-2019-002304-II

9 November, 2022

DWP has not provided adequate explanation for ‘unprecedented and unacceptable’ levels of fraud and error in benefits system, say MPs

Public Accounts Committee finds that, while DWP blames Covid-19 pandemic and increasing propensity for fraud across society as a whole, it did not have a plan to reduce fraud and error before the pandemic and 'doesn't have one now'

8 November, 2022

DWP issues guidance on revision of decisions to terminate an award because a qualifying benefit has ceased, where that benefit is subsequently reinstated

New guidance on Upper Tribunal decision which found that retrospective award of qualifying benefit is to be taken as existing during the period it covers

8 November, 2022

Public Accounts Committee calls for evidence on DWP’s Restart Scheme for claimants who are long-term unemployed

Views sought on whether employment support scheme costing almost £3 billion represents value for money

8 November, 2022

Three-quarters of PIP assessments continue to be carried out remotely

Minister also confirms that only around one in thirteen assessments are carried out face-to-face

8 November, 2022

Ancillary provisions to ensure that the extension of Scottish Child Payment to children up to the age of 16 operates correctly

New statutory instrument

8 November, 2022

Social Justice and Social Security Committee says it will require ‘detailed justification’ if Scottish Government does not increase its benefits in line with inflation

As part of its scrutiny of the forthcoming 2023/2024 budget, Committee also urges Scottish Government to consider whether winter heating payment is adequate in light of current energy costs

7 November, 2022

Cross Party Group calls on Prime Minister to put a universal basic income in place ‘to protect UK households from future crises’

Letter signed by almost 300 politicians, campaigners, academics and civil society leaders says a UBI would guarantee a basic standard of living for everybody and could be 'our generation's NHS'

7 November, 2022

Welfare rights

Extension of Scottish child payment ‘shows the UK Chancellor that prioritising those on low incomes is possible’

JRF estimates that extending £1,300 per year payment to the rest of the UK would benefit more than 5 million children

One in eight households on universal credit received no payment in each of the three months to August 2022

Miscellaneous amendments to Scottish social security benefits including in relation to the extension of Scottish child payment to children between six and 15

Work and Pensions Secretary ‘disappointed’ that PCS members have voted for industrial action

Commencement of automatic 12 month extension of PIP awards awaiting review delayed until ‘early to mid-December’

Trussell Trust reports that number of emergency food parcels distributed between April and September 2022 was up by a third on same period in 2021

Claimants are not required to satisfy all of the elements of the definition of ‘take nutrition’ in order to score points under PIP daily living descriptor 2(b)

CW v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (PIP)
[2022] UKUT 281 (AAC)
UA-2021-000241-PIP

Earnings received in an assessment period are to be taken into account when assessing universal credit for that period even where they relate to an earlier period and were paid late

First-tier Tribunal gave adequate reasons for finding that claimant experienced work-aggravated asthma rather than work-caused occupational asthma

DWP has not provided adequate explanation for ‘unprecedented and unacceptable’ levels of fraud and error in benefits system, say MPs

DWP issues guidance on revision of decisions to terminate an award because a qualifying benefit has ceased, where that benefit is subsequently reinstated

Public Accounts Committee calls for evidence on DWP’s Restart Scheme for claimants who are long-term unemployed

Three-quarters of PIP assessments continue to be carried out remotely

Ancillary provisions to ensure that the extension of Scottish Child Payment to children up to the age of 16 operates correctly

Social Justice and Social Security Committee says it will require ‘detailed justification’ if Scottish Government does not increase its benefits in line with inflation

Cross Party Group calls on Prime Minister to put a universal basic income in place ‘to protect UK households from future crises’

DWP confirms portfolios of its new Ministerial team

Lack of communication and delays in application processing times most frequent criticisms of Social Security Scotland

Government confirms reduction in number of work coaches since its Covid-19-related recruitment drive came to an end

Welfare rights

JRF estimates that extending £1,300 per year payment to the rest of the UK would benefit more than 5 million children

CW v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (PIP) [2022] UKUT 281 (AAC) UA-2021-000241-PIP

CW v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (PIP)
[2022] UKUT 281 (AAC)
UA-2021-000241-PIP