Welfare rights news and case law

24 April, 2020

Amendments to secondary legislation in consequence of introduction of statutory parental bereavement leave and pay

New DWP guidance

23 April, 2020 Open access

Disability benefit awards to be automatically extended by six months if due for reassessment in the next three months

DWP Minister also advises Select Committee that the Department is ‘adopting a very sympathetic, claimant supportive view’ when undertaking paper-based reviews

23 April, 2020 Open access

Government provides update on how income and savings of self-employed people will be treated when claiming universal credit during the COVID-19 outbreak

Work and Pensions Committee hears evidence from the Department about payments under the Self-employment Income Support Scheme and money put aside to cover liability for tax

23 April, 2020

Commencement of Social Security (Scotland) Act powers to make regulations to provide Winter Heating Assistance

New statutory instrument

23 April, 2020

Pension credit severe disability addition can be payable to a claimant who is not entitled to attendance allowance but receives an ‘equivalent’ Polish benefit

HT v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
[2020] UKUT 57 (AAC)
CSA/0387/2019

23 April, 2020

Whether income support including a disability premium is ‘paid on grounds of incapacity for work or disability’ / whether income support is extinguished or suspended where claimant is imprisoned

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v AJ (UC)
[2020] UKUT 48 (AAC)
CUC/1617/2019

22 April, 2020 Open access

DWP needs to ‘enhance its trustworthiness’ by publishing information that it has publicly committed to release, says UK Statistics Authority

Authority writes to Department's Chief Statistician following yesterday's publication of universal credit management information

22 April, 2020 Open access

As first universal credit claims since lockdown go into payment, DWP forecasts that at least 93 per cent will be paid in full and on time

Minister also confirms that since 16 March 2020 there have been more than 1.5 million new claims for the benefit

22 April, 2020 Open access

Coronavirus pandemic has exposed the benefit cap and two-child limit as ‘inherently arbitrary’, say anti-poverty campaigners

Letter to Guardian from 50 charities and faith groups urges government to lift policies now

22 April, 2020 Open access

DWP and Post Office launch joint initiative to deliver cash benefit payments direct to homes of claimants most at risk from coronavirus

New cash delivery option initially available to Post Office Card Account customers in England who are shielding at home due to risk from the virus

22 April, 2020 Open access

Northern Ireland Assembly approves increase in access to discretionary support in response to coronavirus outbreak

Amendment to legislation will increase level of income below which a person is eligible for support from £18,137 to £20,405

22 April, 2020 Open access

Scottish Government confirms details of £34 million support package for recently self-employed people who are excluded from the UK’s support scheme

Economy Secretary says new Hardship Fund will be open for applications by the end of April 2020 and will allocate grants in early May

21 April, 2020 Open access

More than 140,000 ‘declarations’ for universal credit were made in just one day at the end of March 2020

DWP reports 'unprecedented levels' of demand, with five times as many declarations made in the six weeks to 12 April 2020 as in the same period last year

21 April, 2020 Open access

New video relay service launched for deaf claimants accessing universal credit

DWP advises that BSL interpreted calls can be made via tablet, smartphone, computer or laptop without booking in advance

21 April, 2020 Open access

Access to means-tested benefits for prisoners on temporary release

New DWP guidance

21 April, 2020

Whether family members of a person who is self-employed in one State are required to claim sickness benefits in that State, even if they are habitually resident in another State

AH v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (DLA)
[2020] UKUT 53 (AAC)
CDLA/882/2017
Reported as [2023] AACR 8

21 April, 2020

Reconvened tribunal hearing must be before exactly the same panel or a completely different one

SW v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (ESA)
[2019] UKUT 415 (AAC)
CE/1134/2019

20 April, 2020 Open access

Urgent action needed to strengthen the social security safety net during the coronavirus crisis, says Shadow Secretary of State

Jonathan Reynolds sets out five key measures to improve support, including conversion of universal credit advances into grants and uprating JSA and ESA in line with universal credit

20 April, 2020 Open access

New-style employment and support allowance can now be claimed online

Updated guidance also confirms new eligibility conditions for benefit for those affected by COVID-19