Welfare rights news and case law

13 January, 2021 Open access

DWP advises that data on ESA and PIP claims from people diagnosed with ‘long Covid’ is not available or has not been collected

Minister for Disability, Health and Work says that the costs of providing ESA data are ‘disproportionate’, while the PIP computer system has not been updated to record the condition

13 January, 2021

Identification of claimants whose universal credit awards require adjusting to ensure monthly earnings are evenly allocated will become an automated process ‘early in 2021’

Awards will be corrected proactively before they are paid, without the need for the claimant to raise the issue, DWP Minister tells Select Committee

13 January, 2021 Open access

Response to Covid-19 pandemic should be measured by ‘how just and compassionate it is to people in poverty’, says Joseph Rowntree Foundation

New annual report on poverty in the UK calls on government to strengthen benefit system by, at a miminum, retaining universal credit and tax credit uplift and extending it to legacy benefits

13 January, 2021

Uprating of prescribed council tax reduction scheme applicable amounts for people who reach pensionable age on or after 1 April 2021

New regulations in England also makes changes to scheme to bring it in line with housing benefit regime

12 January, 2021

Department for Communities issues Directions to authorise electronic claims for employment and support allowance in Northern Ireland

Social Security (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) (No. 1) Direction (Northern Ireland) 2021 in force from 12 January 2021

12 January, 2021

Time that DWP ‘took the blinkers off’ and looked at real impact of five-week wait for universal credit, says Chair of Select Committee

Responding to Work and Pensions Committee's report, government rejects proposal for a starter payment and refuses to carry out any research on links between universal credit and foodbank use

12 January, 2021 Open access

CPAG calls on government to urgently prioritise cash payments to families as replacement for free school meals during Covid-19 lockdown

Open letter to Education Secretary also calls on government to retain £20 uplift to universal credit, increase child benefit by £10 per child, and expand eligibility for free school meals

12 January, 2021 Open access

More than half of PIP claimants whose award has been extended due to Covid-19 have not yet been notified of extension

Minister for Disabled People confirms that the 850,000 notifications still outstanding will be issued by 'early 2021'

12 January, 2021 Open access

DWP Minister summarises recent changes to SSP entitlement rules designed to support workers affected by Covid-19 pandemic

However, Justin Tomlinson fails to confirm whether Secretary of State is considering an increase in the payment rate in response to the outbreak

12 January, 2021 Open access

DWP confirms that it has no plans to suspend repayments of universal credit advances and sanctions for claimants during current Covid-19 lockdown

However, Minister also assures parliament that work coaches will work with claimants to ensure that claimant commitments allow them 'to continue to adhere to Covid-19 public health advice'

12 January, 2021 Open access

While average household spending has fallen during the Covid-19 pandemic, one in three low-income families have experienced increased spending pressures

Resolution Foundation calls on government to maintain £20 'uplift' to universal credit and provide more targeted support to families with children

11 January, 2021 Open access

Labour leader calls on government to put families first by providing further financial support during current lockdown

Leader’s first speech of 2021 recommends ‘new approach’ that includes suspension of council tax rises, stopping cuts to universal credit and extending the ban on evictions and repossessions

11 January, 2021

Whether benefit awards made to claimant using a fictitious identity that had been granted British Citizenship were properly revised, reversed and found recoverable

ED v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
[2020] UKUT 352 (AAC)
CJSA/2368/2373/2377 & 2381/2017, CE/2384 & 2388/2017 and CIS/2390/2395 & 2396/2017

8 January, 2021

New draft legislation extends rights to review finalised tax credit awards to enable further backdating of disability element awards

Policy intent is to ensure claimants receive backdated disability elements even when tax credit awards have ceased or cross several tax years

8 January, 2021

Upper Tribunal Administrative Appeals Chamber publishes guidance for litigants in person

New guidance explains what the Upper Tribunal's 'overriding objective' to deal with cases fairly and justly means in practice for litigants in person

8 January, 2021

Removal of SDP Gateway and eligibility for SDP transitional protection in universal credit for new claimants in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

7 January, 2021

Welfare rights

DWP advises that data on ESA and PIP claims from people diagnosed with ‘long Covid’ is not available or has not been collected

Minister for Disability, Health and Work says that the costs of providing ESA data are ‘disproportionate’, while the PIP computer system has not been updated to record the condition

Identification of claimants whose universal credit awards require adjusting to ensure monthly earnings are evenly allocated will become an automated process ‘early in 2021’

Response to Covid-19 pandemic should be measured by ‘how just and compassionate it is to people in poverty’, says Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Uprating of prescribed council tax reduction scheme applicable amounts for people who reach pensionable age on or after 1 April 2021

Department for Communities issues Directions to authorise electronic claims for employment and support allowance in Northern Ireland

Time that DWP ‘took the blinkers off’ and looked at real impact of five-week wait for universal credit, says Chair of Select Committee

CPAG calls on government to urgently prioritise cash payments to families as replacement for free school meals during Covid-19 lockdown

Open letter to Education Secretary also calls on government to retain £20 uplift to universal credit, increase child benefit by £10 per child, and expand eligibility for free school meals

More than half of PIP claimants whose award has been extended due to Covid-19 have not yet been notified of extension

DWP Minister summarises recent changes to SSP entitlement rules designed to support workers affected by Covid-19 pandemic

DWP confirms that it has no plans to suspend repayments of universal credit advances and sanctions for claimants during current Covid-19 lockdown

While average household spending has fallen during the Covid-19 pandemic, one in three low-income families have experienced increased spending pressures

Labour leader calls on government to put families first by providing further financial support during current lockdown

Whether benefit awards made to claimant using a fictitious identity that had been granted British Citizenship were properly revised, reversed and found recoverable

New draft legislation extends rights to review finalised tax credit awards to enable further backdating of disability element awards

Upper Tribunal Administrative Appeals Chamber publishes guidance for litigants in person

Removal of SDP Gateway and eligibility for SDP transitional protection in universal credit for new claimants in Northern Ireland

Removal of SDP Gateway and eligibility for SDP transitional protection in universal credit for new claimants

Labour Party appoints new shadow pensions minister

Public and Commercial Services Union calls for suspension of all conditionality and sanction activity