Welfare rights news and case law

3 November, 2022

Money Advice Trust calls on government to urgently reduce waiting period for Support for Mortgage Interest from 39 to 13 weeks

Charity warns that many mortgage payers face 'serious financial difficulty ahead' as Bank of England raises interest rates to 3 per cent

3 November, 2022

More than £430 million of bedroom tax deductions were made from claimants’ housing support payments in 2021/2022

DWP Minister says that no wider assessment of the impact of these deductions has been made in light of the cost of living crisis

2 November, 2022

One in four local authorities in England offer no discretionary crisis provision through Household Support Fund

Resolution Foundation finds that, with most local authorities distributing Fund as automatic top-ups to existing benefits, localised support is increasingly used to 'soften the sharp edges of large-scale benefit cuts'

2 November, 2022

MoJ confirms plans to invite around 20,000 people who have council tax arrears to take part in Early Legal Advice Pilot

Invitees will be asked to complete a confidential survey to determine whether they have a legal issue that requires support

1 November, 2022

New Work and Pensions Secretary says that one of his ‘early key missions’ will be to focus on the economically inactive

However, while committing to the DWP being a 'compassionate, caring Department', Mel Stride declines to rule out means-testing of disability and carer benefits

1 November, 2022

Average time to carry out mandatory reconsiderations for PIP and universal credit is almost two months

However, Minister confirms that the waiting time is just ten days for ESA work capability assessment reconsiderations

31 October, 2022

Government confirms commencement of first phase of delayed Early Legal Advice Pilot

MoJ says aims of initial testing will be to gather key data about the pilot’s target population, their legal problems and the support they require, as well as the challenges for providers

31 October, 2022

Think tanks and research groups highlight ‘major weaknesses’ in DWP’s current jobcentre employment support offer

Select Committee also warned that Department needs to redefine support and conditionality to better engage the economically inactive and help them back into the labour market

31 October, 2022

Scottish Government publishes estimated take-up rates of its devolved social security benefits for the first time

New report will provide 'valuable insights to identify what more can be done', says Minister

28 October, 2022

Government confirms new ministerial line-up at the Department for Work and Pensions

Announcements made further to the appointment earlier this week of Mel Stride as new Work and Pensions Secretary

27 October, 2022

More than 100 organisations call on new Prime Minister to honour his commitment to uprate benefits in line with inflation

Joint letter to Rishi Sunak also urges him to bring the increase forward to 'support people most in need through a difficult winter'

27 October, 2022

Les Allamby appointed as new Discretionary Support Commissioner for Northern Ireland

Former Human Rights Commissioner replaces previous office holder Walter Rader and takes up the role on 1 November 2022

27 October, 2022

Department for Communities in Northern Ireland publishes 2021 annual report on social security decision making and financial accuracy

While level of decision making is currently good, Standards Committee warns that, with impending migration of universal credit, thought will need to be given to the timetabling and resourcing of change to avoid a decline

26 October, 2022

Social Security (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill receives Royal Assent

New legislation extends the life expectancy timeframe from six to 12 months in respect of PIP, DLA and attendance allowance

26 October, 2022

More than half of private renters in receipt of housing benefit or universal credit have rents that are higher than the local housing allowance

Minister confirms that the average shortfall is £146 per month, but says that 'LHA rates are not intended to meet all rents in all areas'

26 October, 2022

Savings provision in relation to changes to Scottish Child Payment including the increase to £25 per week from 14 November 2022

New statutory instrument

26 October, 2022

Independent expert panel places offset of two child limit at centre of new welfare mitigation proposals for Northern Ireland

Recommendations for new measures also include offsetting the five-week wait for universal credit, a new ‘cost of work’ allowance to support working claimants, and additional funding for the advice sector

25 October, 2022

Mel Stride appointed as new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Chair of the Treasury Select Committee replaces Chloe Smith as part of new Prime Minister's first Cabinet reshuffle

25 October, 2022

Government issues updated guidance in England in relation to extension of Household Support Fund to 31 March 2023

With an extra £500 million allocated to cover the period from October 2022, DWP also confirms that devolved administrations will receive up to £79 million