Welfare rights news and case law

31 May, 2024

Scottish local authorities spent almost £85 million on discretionary housing payments in 2023/2024

New statistics also show that more than 80 per cent of spending was used to mitigate the bedroom tax

30 May, 2024

More than a third of claimants referred to first phase of DWP’s Universal Support employment programme did not then make a start

New Work and Health Programme statistics also show that of those that started on the new programme, 80 per cent had a disability

30 May, 2024

Department for Communities in Northern Ireland publishes universal credit, benefit cap and PIP statistics for period to February 2024

New figures include that more than 40 per cent of new universal credit claims relate to managed migration

29 May, 2024

More than four in ten frontline DWP staff say they have not received adequate training to enable them to deal with safeguarding issues appropriately

New survey also finds that almost half of customer-facing staff say that safeguarding procedures are not followed properly by all staff in every instance

29 May, 2024

Transfer of tax credits claimants over state pension age to universal credit or pension credit in Northern Ireland

New statutory rules

28 May, 2024

SSAC says that, having scrutinised the DWP’s WCA proposals, it will take a ‘closer look’ at some aspects over the summer

Committee adds that it will provide more information in July on how people can contribute to its work

24 May, 2024

Bill to provide for changes to the high income child benefit charge receives Royal Assent

Following the announcement of the General Election, the government's Finance (No. 2) Bill completed its Committee stage and all remaining stages earlier today

24 May, 2024

Bill that would allow the DWP to carry out regular checks on benefit claimants’ bank accounts falls with prorogation of Parliament

Government's Data Protection and Digital Information Bill fails to make it beyond its Committee stage following the announcement of the General Election

24 May, 2024

Government still lacks an understanding of the costs and benefits of its 2013 legal aid reforms and whether those who are eligible for legal aid can access it

Select Committee says it is deeply concerned about the MoJ and Legal Aid Agency’s lack of curiosity on the impact of decreasing numbers of providers on people’s access to help

24 May, 2024

Impact of Withdrawal Agreement on operation of PIP past presence test for claimant with EU family member with settled status

ES v SSWP
[2024] UKUT 97 (AAC)
UA-2023-SCO-000146-PIP

23 May, 2024

Government says it does not believe EHRC investigation into DWP’s treatment of disabled claimants is necessary

Work and Pensions Minister reiterates Secretary of State's view that the investigation is based on a suspicion that something has occurred and that that is not, in and of itself, conclusive proof

23 May, 2024

NAO confirms it will undertake further investigations into the DWP’s administration of carer’s allowance

Responding to request from Work and Pensions Committee, Comptroller and Auditor General acknowledges 'continuing concerns' and agrees that further work in this area would be of value

23 May, 2024

DWP has ‘no plans’ to commission research to understand the impact of benefit levels on the health and wellbeing of claimants

Responding to recommendations from the Work and Pensions Committee, Department also says it will not be commissioning research into the extent to which current benefit levels are meeting their objective in relation to living costs

23 May, 2024

DWP issues guidance on new administrative exercise to review PIP mobility awards that were not increased because the claimant was over state pension age

Guidance applies to PIP claims that were reviewed between April 2013 and November 2020, with the Department advising those affected to 'contact PIP'

23 May, 2024

Success of Plan for Jobs package hindered by lack of support for work coaches and persistent barriers to employment for some participants

Research report reveals success rates of five employment support programmes and highlights problems encountered by Jobcentre staff and claimants

23 May, 2024

Scottish First Minister makes eradicating child poverty his ‘single most important objective’

However, CPAG Scotland says that, while commitment is welcome, it must be backed by concrete policies and investment on a scale well beyond that set out in Mr Swinney's statement

22 May, 2024

Equality and Human Rights Commission launches investigation into Work and Pensions Secretary over concerns about DWP’s treatment of disabled claimants

EHRC says it suspects that successive Secretaries of State may have breached Equality Act duties by failing to make reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities or long-term mental health conditions during WCA and PIP assessment process

22 May, 2024

Tribunal considering claim for universal credit backdating from claimant with disability failed to consider whether hypothetical person in his circumstances could reasonably have been expected to make claim earlier

CU v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
[2024] UKUT 32 (AAC)
UA-2023-1084-USTA

21 May, 2024

Advice sector raises serious concerns about DWP’s approach to sharing information about calculation of transitional protection under universal credit

Letter to Senior DWP officials highlights impact on claimants and their advisers of Department's failure to provide standardised and detailed information about calculations, alongside guidance that is 'misleading and incomplete'