Welfare rights news and case law

27 February, 2008

Drug users on benefit to be required to attend treatment sessions

Government launches new ten year Drugs Strategy

26 February, 2008

Council tax demand notices in England

New statutory instrument

25 February, 2008

Meaning of ‘in receipt of’ income support

CH/411/2007

25 February, 2008

Entitlement to retirement pension without having to make a claim

New statutory instrument

25 February, 2008

Entitlement to help under the Healthy Start Scheme

New statutory instrument

22 February, 2008

Loss of 'worker' status if employment terminated after short period because of underlying medical condition

CIS/467/2007

22 February, 2008

Funeral payment - whether ‘estrangement’ relevant to claim by ‘close relative’

CIS/3534/2007

22 February, 2008

Official error overpayment - what may reasonably be expected of a claimant

CH/2943/2007

22 February, 2008

Programme to open hundreds of Jobcentre Plus offices completed for £314 million less than orignal budget

86% of claimants who use the new service fairly or very satisfied with the results, says NAO

21 February, 2008

Jobcentre Plus staff to be given greater ability to impose sanctions on 'those who can work and choose not to'

New regime needed for those who try to play the system, says Secretary of State

21 February, 2008

Access to benefits should be denied to non-EU migrants until completion of a period of probationary citizenship

Government publishes new immigration reform Green Paper

21 February, 2008

Rent Service establishes Central Processing Unit to take overall responsibility for the administrative functions of all HB casework

New CPU will assist in responding to fluctuations in workload resulting from the introduction of LHA

21 February, 2008

Up to £100 million in council tax benefit goes unclaimed in Wales

£3 million to be spent on targeted take-up campaign

20 February, 2008

Parental responsibility for child benefit purposes where residence order in place

CF/2871/2007 — R(F) 1/08

20 February, 2008

Long-term unemployed claimants to be required to complete at least four weeks work or training

Government to introduce Flexible New Deal programme from October 2009

20 February, 2008

GPs should issue claimants with ‘well notes’ not ‘sick notes’

Incapacity benefit should not be a one-way street that starts in the doctor's surgery, says Health Secretary

19 February, 2008

Whether tribunal bound by decision that claimant’s mother had a right to reside

CIS/3032/2007

19 February, 2008

Overpayment - lack of power to supersede

CIB/2762/2007

19 February, 2008

Overpayment due to claimant’s misrepresentation

CDLA/2203/2007