Welfare rights news and case law

11 August, 2020 Open access

Number of new claims being made for universal credit has reduced to pre-pandemic levels

However, new DWP statistics show that there are now 5.6 million people on universal credit, of which 42 per cent are 'searching for work'

11 August, 2020 Open access

‘Bold and immediate action’ needed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that people’s incomes are maximised and that people know their rights

Senedd Committee calls for a largescale, comprehensive benefits take-up campaign, and significantly increase funding for advice services

11 August, 2020 Open access

Proportion of universal credit claimants subject to conditionality who had a sanction deduction applied to their benefit during May 2020 dropped to 0.73 per cent

New DWP statistics highlight that the 1.32 per cent decrease follows the legislative changes introduced in response to the coronavirus outbreak

11 August, 2020 Open access

More than 80,000 carers in Scotland received the one-off ‘coronavirus carer’s allowance supplement’ along with their standard payment in June 2020

Scottish Government says that it expects total number to rise to 84,000 once finalised data has been received

11 August, 2020

Effective dates for awards superseded as a result of DWP’s review exercises following MH v SSWP and RJ & Ors v SSWP

CM v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (PIP)
[2020] UKUT 221 (AAC)
CPIP/2631/ 2019

10 August, 2020 Open access

PCS to hold consultative ballot on government’s plans to extend opening hours of jobcentres and universal credit service centres from 30 November 2020

Union writes to the DWP demanding that there should be no escalation of footfall in jobcentres, and that only interviews with the most vulnerable are conducted in jobcentres throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic

10 August, 2020

Exception to the universal credit basic condition ‘not to be receiving education’ for those in receipt of a disability benefit

New DWP guidance

10 August, 2020 Open access

Exemption from shared accommodation rate of LHA for under 35s formerly accommodated through the ‘Everyone In’ initiative

New edition of the DWP's LA Welfare Direct confirms that hotels and B&Bs used during COVID-19 outbreak will generally meet the definition of ‘hostel’ so that former residents can qualify for exemption on that basis

10 August, 2020

Whether a First-tier Tribunal had jurisdiction to hear an appeal where there had been no decision by the Secretary of State

MM v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (IS)
[2020] UKUT 220 (AAC)
CIS/507/2020

7 August, 2020

Any reform of judicial review must be based on robust, empirical evidence, says Public Law Project

Terms of reference for recently announced independent review asks questions for which there is little evidence, yet the consequences of poorly evidenced reforms are 'all too-well documented'

7 August, 2020

Regulations limiting eligibility for universal credit are ‘really bad news for disabled students’, says Disability Rights UK

Charity condemns 'torturous route' to entitlement following legislation ensuring that students in receipt of a disability benefit cannot claim universal credit without prior LCW determination

7 August, 2020 Open access

SSAC to conduct rapid review of post-lockdown changes to social security benefits

Short-term review, which will be used to provide advice to the government by the end of the summer, will consider how easements have worked and what measures can best support claimants in the 'new normal'

7 August, 2020

Whether DWP’s former practice of only providing tribunals with examples of least demanding work-related activities in ESA appeals was flawed

MR v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (ESA)
[2020] UKUT 210 (AAC)
CE/1689/2018

7 August, 2020

DWP confirms relaunch of its Housing Benefit Award Accuracy Initiative from October 2020

New HB Circular advises on activities participating local authorities will be funded to carry out to proactively identify unreported changes of circumstances

7 August, 2020

Extending eligibility for SSP in Northern Ireland to cover people who are self-isolating in line with updated advice from the UK Chief Medical Officer

New statutory rule

6 August, 2020 Open access

‘Unprecedented’ increase of 665 per cent in the number of newly capped households on universal credit in the quarter to May 2020

New DWP statistics also show 86 per cent of capped households included children, and more than half were capped by more than £50 per week

6 August, 2020 Open access

Work search and work availability requirements reintroduced from 3 August 2020 for new and existing claimants of jobseeker’s allowance in Northern Ireland

However, Department for Communities advises that the requirements are still suspended for existing claims for universal credit

6 August, 2020 Open access

Scottish Human Rights Commission calls for Scottish Government to do more to realise people’s human right to social security during COVID-19 pandemic

While welcoming what the government has done so far, Commission suggests further action, including speeding up delivery of Scottish Child Payment and to repeat the June 2020 increase in the carer's allowance supplement

6 August, 2020

Four out of five social workers report that more than half the families they work with have been affected by benefit cuts

CPAG calls for impact of poverty on the ability of families to support and protect children to be addressed across government departments, ideally as part of a cross-government child poverty strategy