Welfare rights news and case law

6 May, 2020 Open access

Citizens Advice calls for range of benefit changes to ensure that all groups are supported during and after the coronavirus lockdown

New report recommends changes to benefit system to fill ongoing gaps and to ensure that 'no one is left behind as we recover from this crisis'

5 May, 2020 Open access

Secretary of State is ‘actively looking’ at what can be done for tax credit claimants who have lost entitlement due to applying for universal credit

Dr Coffey adds that she has 'already asked for the website to be updated', so that people are 'crystal clear' when they apply

5 May, 2020 Open access

2.3 million ‘declarations’ for universal credit made since beginning of coronavirus lockdown

New management information also shows that DWP paid more than 800,000 universal credit advances in period since lockdown began

5 May, 2020 Open access

Communities Minister confirms that councils in Northern Ireland can furlough staff through Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

'My priority has been to ensure that the rights of workers are respected and to protect jobs', says Minister

5 May, 2020 Open access

Claims to the value of £8 billion made to Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in first two weeks

HMRC announces that by midnight on 3 May 2020, more than 6 million employees had been furloughed by 800,000 companies

5 May, 2020 Open access

Government’s COVID-19 exit strategy will pose tough questions for the operation of universal credit, says Institute for Government

Key challenges will include deciding when, where, and at what scale work coaches engage with claimants, and how claimant conditionality will be re-introduced post-lockdown

5 May, 2020 Open access

Treasury approves continuation of government support for Gov.UK Verify operations for up to 18 months

Continued support marks delay to plans for private sector to take over responsibility, triggered by ‘unprecedented demand for key online services using digital identity such as universal credit’

5 May, 2020

Letter inviting claimant to medical examination did not impose legal requirement to attend / tribunal could not lawfully decide that claimant had failed to attend examination without seeing appointment letter

PPE v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (ESA)
[2020] UKUT 59 (AAC)
CE/2126/2018

4 May, 2020 Open access

Government announces more than £5m of new funding to support social welfare law advice sector in England and Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic

Advice sector plays a vital role in helping people access justice and resolve their legal problems, and should be supported to continue to operate safely and effectively, says Justice Minister

4 May, 2020 Open access

HMRC confirms that people not working their normal hours because of coronavirus will retain entitlement to their usual tax credits

Claimants do not need to contact HMRC as they will be treated as working their normal hours until the Job Retention Scheme and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme close

4 May, 2020 Open access

HMRC starts contacting claimants who may be eligible for the COVID-19 Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

New scheme will open on 13 May 2020, with those eligible receiving money by 25 May 2020 or within six working days of completing their claim

4 May, 2020

Whether universal credit date of claim can be fixed at point when claimant starts or saves progress entering online claim information rather than when completed claim is submitted

GDC v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (UC)
[2020] UKUT 108 (AAC)
CUC/968/2019

1 May, 2020 Open access

Government issues Treasury Direction setting out the legal framework for the coronavirus Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

Made under provisions in the Coronavirus Act 2020, the new Direction requires HMRC to be responsible for the payment and management of amounts to be paid under the Scheme

1 May, 2020 Open access

Coalition of anti-poverty charities calls for new coronavirus emergency income support scheme in light of record increase in number of people supported by food banks

Scheme would include increase in benefits for children, suspending recovery of advance payments, and lifting benefit cap and two-child limit

1 May, 2020 Open access

DWP to publish daily counts of universal credit claims and advances on a weekly basis until the end of June 2020

New figures covering period from 1 March to 28 April 2020 will be published on 5 May, with further releases published every Tuesday thereafter

1 May, 2020

Social Security Administration and Tribunal Membership (Scotland) Bill introduced to Scottish Parliament

Bill provides for changes to social security provision, including in relation to offences and investigations in 'top up' benefits, and allows judges from other jurisdictions to sit on Scottish Tribunals

30 April, 2020 Open access

DWP ‘pausing’ third party deductions from universal credit payments until 10 May 2020

However, communication to stakeholders says that direct payments in respect of ongoing rent will continue

30 April, 2020 Open access

HMRC should amend the ‘furlough scheme’ to allow for short-time working during the COVID-19 outbreak, says Reform think tank

Change to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme would allow employees to continue to do some work, and give businesses greater flexibility to respond to the impacts of the crisis

30 April, 2020

Urgent investment in the advice sector is needed to ensure it can meet the demand for digital assistance required under Courts and Tribunals reform programme

Administrative Justice Council highlights that between a third and a half of the sector's service users would require support to access a digital justice system