Welfare rights news and case law

18 September, 2020

Four in ten universal credit awards had a deduction applied in May 2020

New DWP statistics also show that more than 1.6 million claimants were subject to a deduction, at an average rate of £60

18 September, 2020 Open access

Upper Tribunal Administrative Appeals Chamber confirms that it is still not possible to hold face-to-face hearings in Northern Ireland

Revised guidance from Chamber President advises that hearings will continue to be either held remotely or adjourned until further notice

18 September, 2020

DWP issues guidance on how it will identify PIP claimants affected by the Supreme Court’s judgment in MM

New list of responses to 'frequently asked questions' also includes details of the period over which arrears may be paid and the circumstances where claims will not be reviewed

18 September, 2020 Open access

Government confirms circumstances in which those who have claimed but are not yet in receipt of a qualifying benefit can apply for an NHS Test and Trace self-isolation payment

Written answer in parliament confirms eligibility where claim for qualifying benefit has been approved, and it is no later than two weeks after the person's period of self-isolation period has ended

17 September, 2020

DWP announces that SDP transitional payments in universal credit will convert to transitional elements on 8 October 2020

Minister says the change will be made by way of a Determination, which will be placed in the House of Commons Library

17 September, 2020 Open access

Without more tailored and personalised support for the post-COVID-19 universal credit claimant cohort, the social security system risks exacerbating existing inequalities and creating new ones

New reserach finds that a higher proportion of post-COVID-19 claimants are young, BAME, from a higher 'social grade', without a disability, or owner-occupiers compared to the existing pre-COVID-19 claimant cohort

17 September, 2020

DWP confirms use of ‘additional support’ markers to identify PIP claimants who may not be able to engage effectively with claims process

Updated guidance also sets out examples of health conditions that may mean claimant could struggle with the PIP journey

17 September, 2020 Open access

DWP confirms that it is working on a digital method of examining ID documents for National Insurance number applications

Employment Minister says this should enable allocation process to restart incrementally from the end of September 2020

16 September, 2020

DWP confirms new administrative exercise will be launched to identify PIP claimants affected by the Supreme Court’s ruling on PIP activity 9 and social support in SSWP v MM

New ADM Memo also says that only administrative exercise decision-makers will be able to arrange full arrears payments beyond any normal effective date of decision under review

16 September, 2020

Guidance on safeguarding claimants with appointees under the Scottish social security system to be placed on statutory footing

Social Security Cabinet Secretary also confirms to MSPs that claimants will have a right to apply to the First-tier Tribunal if dissatisfied with ministerial reviews of appointment decisions

16 September, 2020

Consequential amendments to social security legislation to provide for treatment of certain benefits introduced under Social Security Scotland Act 2018

New statutory instrument

16 September, 2020 Open access

Contingency arrangements in the First-Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic extended to March 2021

Acting Senior President of Tribunals reissues Pilot Practice Directions that include new guidance on ‘hybrid' hearings and the use of former salaried judges

15 September, 2020

Court of Appeal rejects challenge to increase in women’s state pension age

Delve & Anor, R (On the Application Of) v The Secretary of State for Work And Pensions [2020] EWCA Civ 1199

15 September, 2020

DWP provides update on what it is doing to reimburse up to 130,000 married women who may have lost out on state pension entitlement as a result of its falure to apply an automatic uplift

Responding to oral questions in the Commons yesterday, Pensions Minister advises that the Department continues to check and remedy further cases that are identified

15 September, 2020 Open access

PIP new claims and change of circumstances requests show gradual recovery to near-normal levels in quarter ending July 2020

However, new DWP statistics also show that mandatory reconsiderations are at their lowest level since September 2015

15 September, 2020

Calculation and payment of housing benefit subsidy for 2019/2020 and 2020/2021

New statutory instrument

14 September, 2020 Open access

Government’s strategy of ‘mass testing’ for COVID-19 will require ‘structured financial and social support’ to promote self-isolation and mitigate impacts on inequalities

Group established to advise SAGE on the benefits and challenges of mass testing also says provision of financial support to safeguard incomes would be likely to have the single largest effect in achieving equitable testing

14 September, 2020 Open access

Government’s refusal to disregard COVID-19 compensation payments for means-tested benefit purposes is ‘lacking in reason and compassion’, says Shadow Secretary of State

Work and Pensions Secretary says that COVID-19 payments differ from Grenfell or Windrush compensation payments because there has been no failure within government

14 September, 2020 Open access

Now is not the time to bring more claimants into Jobcentres, says Public and Commercial Services Union

In response, DWP says appointments should be done by telephone where possible but sets out priority groups to be offered face-to-face appointments