Welfare rights news and case law

23 February, 2021 Open access

Fewer than 5,000 universal credit claimants had a sanction deduction in November 2020

New sanction statistics also show that fewer than 200 new adverse sanction decisions were made in the three months to October 2020

22 February, 2021

Court of Appeal considers whether to hear appeal on points of law not previously raised by HMRC

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs v Carrington [2021] EWCA Civ 174

22 February, 2021 Open access

Shadow Chancellor urges government to expand self-isolation support to help avoid a fourth lockdown

Labour Party proposes wider eligibility for Test and Trace Payment and reform of 'broken system' of statutory sick pay

19 February, 2021 Open access

More ‘ambitious’ benefit system needed to ensure that claimants are adequately supported as UK recovers from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic

New report provides an in-depth understanding of the experiences of claimants and how people have navigated the benefit system during a time of unprecedented labour market disruption

18 February, 2021 Open access

DWP confirms that it has ‘increased the range of outcomes’ that can be provided following a telephone work capability assessment

Department adds that it will be carrying out a second telephone assessment for claimants who had a previous assessment which did not result in a recommendation or decision

18 February, 2021

Uprating of war pensions for 2021/2022

New DWP guidance

17 February, 2021

Coroner issues ‘Report to Prevent Future Deaths’ to DWP and Capita following findings that their failings contributed to death of claimant

Matters of concern include lack of mental health training for call handlers, and 'brief and, at times, inaccurate' records which did not facilitate accurate decision making

17 February, 2021 Open access

Continuing with planned cut to £20 uplift of universal credit will ‘overwhelmingly hit incomes of working and disabled people’, says Fabian Society

New analysis also finds that more than 750,000 people will be pulled into poverty in the medium term which raises 'fundamental questions of justice and morality’

17 February, 2021 Open access

Welsh Government extends Self-Isolation Support Scheme to June 2021 and widens eligibility criteria

Eligibility rules amended to include people with income of less than £500 per week and those on statutory sick pay who have been asked to self-isolate

17 February, 2021 Open access

Scottish Government announces new £100 Covid Spring Hardship Payment for low income families

Funding is part of package of measures worth more than £37 million aimed at tackling poverty and inequality

15 February, 2021

Pilot scheme testing universal credit in-work conditionality extended for 12 months to February 2022

New statutory instrument

15 February, 2021

Uprating of tax credits, child benefit and guardian’s allowance from April 2021

New statutory instrument

15 February, 2021 Open access

Role of financial support in helping to address barriers to people adhering to the need to self-isolate

Paper presented to January 2021 meeting of SAGE highlights that financial hardship, lower socio-economic position and inability to work from home are all associated with lower self-reported adherence

15 February, 2021

National Insurance earnings limits and thresholds for 2021/2022

New statutory instrument

12 February, 2021

Introduction of child disability payment in place of disability living allowance for children and young people in Scotland

New statutory instrument

12 February, 2021

House of Lords votes in favour of motion regretting that removal of SDP gateway will result in claimants moving to universal credit without being fully compensated for loss of premium

Motion also calls on government to extend universal credit uplift to legacy benefits, and ensure that claimants with an SDP are advised that they could lose money as a consequence of moving to universal credit

12 February, 2021

Government consults on broadening National Fraud Initiative data matching powers

Cabinet Office estimates that new powers could lead to savings to the public sector of at least £10 million per year

12 February, 2021

DWP says that it is writing to claimants with Post Office card accounts to inform them that the service is closing and to request alternative account details

However, new edition of Touchbase also confirms that payment exception service will be available for those who are unable to open different type of account or provide new account details

12 February, 2021

Fear of encountering dogs out of doors is relevant, in principle, to claimant’s ability to follow the route of a journey for PIP mobility component purposes

EE v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (CPIP)
[2021] UKUT 17 (AAC)
CPIP/596/2020