Welfare rights news and case law

22 September, 2022

Audit Scotland warns that longer-term planning needed if Scottish Government is to reach 2030 child poverty target

Essential that Ministers act now to set out detail of how second child poverty delivery plan will be delivered, monitored and evaluated, says Auditor General

21 September, 2022

Number of households subject to benefit cap increased by almost 10 per cent in the three months to May 2022

New DWP statistics also show that almost 70 per cent of capped households were single parents with children, continuing quarter-on-quarter increase from 60 per cent in February 2021

20 September, 2022

Universal credit migration process is ill-suited to needs of people with mental health problems and preventative measures must be taken to mitigate potential harm

Money and Mental Health Institute sets out series of recommendations to maximise claimants' ability to respond to migration notices while also ensuring that incomes are safeguarded

20 September, 2022

Increase in the universal credit administrative earnings threshold

New DWP guidance

20 September, 2022

Increasing the winter fuel payment in Northern Ireland in 2022/2023 to take account of the new cost of living payment

New statutory rule

16 September, 2022

Universal credit claimants have the right to seek backdating of their claim after the decision to award benefit has been made

AM v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (UC)
[2022] UKUT 242 (AAC)
UA-2022-000041-USTA

16 September, 2022

Almost 95 per cent of households who are subject to the benefit cap are only capped because its level has been frozen for six years

New CPAG analysis finds that, had cap been increased in line with inflation, it would be up to £260 per week higher in 2023/2024

15 September, 2022

Cost of administering WCA mandatory reconsiderations and appeals under ESA reduced from more than £27m in 2014/2015 to just £1.3m in 2021/2022

Minister advises that the estimated figures include costs for both direct delivery staff and non-staff costs as well as for DWP Presenting Officers

14 September, 2022

Welfare rights

Calculation and payment of housing benefit subsidy for 2021/2022

New statutory instrument

Increase in the universal credit administrative earnings threshold in Northern Ireland

Continuation of suspension of waiting days for SSP in Northern Ireland where incapacity for work due to sickness from Covid-19 that commenced on or before 24 September 2022

Chancellor announces further increase in universal credit administrative earnings threshold

More than 12,000 universal credit claimants with an amount deducted for a sanction failed to qualify for the first cost of living payment as a result of a nil award

Removal of requirement for budgeting loan awards to be agreed in writing before payment released in Northern Ireland

Audit Scotland warns that longer-term planning needed if Scottish Government is to reach 2030 child poverty target

Essential that Ministers act now to set out detail of how second child poverty delivery plan will be delivered, monitored and evaluated, says Auditor General

Number of households subject to benefit cap increased by almost 10 per cent in the three months to May 2022

Universal credit migration process is ill-suited to needs of people with mental health problems and preventative measures must be taken to mitigate potential harm

Increase in the universal credit administrative earnings threshold

Increasing the winter fuel payment in Northern Ireland in 2022/2023 to take account of the new cost of living payment

Universal credit claimants have the right to seek backdating of their claim after the decision to award benefit has been made

Almost 95 per cent of households who are subject to the benefit cap are only capped because its level has been frozen for six years

Cost of administering WCA mandatory reconsiderations and appeals under ESA reduced from more than £27m in 2014/2015 to just £1.3m in 2021/2022

Average cost per social security appeal has quadrupled over last nine years

Benefits and tax credits to be paid early ahead of next week’s State Funeral

Fewer than four out of ten new normal rules PIP claims made in the last five years resulted in an award

Bill that reforms terminal illness provisions in PIP, DLA and attendance allowance completes passage through Parliament

Government urged to rethink its plans for a Bill of Rights as second reading of proposed legislation is postponed