Welfare rights news and case law

9 April, 2020 Open access

No one making a new claim for universal credit needs to call the DWP, says Secretary of State

New measure introduced in response to 'huge volumes of calls' that has lead to claimants waiting several hours on the helpline

9 April, 2020 Open access

DWP sets out how payments from coronavirus support schemes for employees and self-employed impact on housing benefit

New edition of LA Welfare Direct also clarifies that a housing benefit claim can be accepted from a person who has reached state pension age even where universal credit has not terminated

9 April, 2020 Open access

Introduction of the Scottish Child Payment delayed due to coronavirus outbreak

Scottish Government says it will aim to start taking applications by the end of 2020, with payments being made from 2021

9 April, 2020 Open access

Temporary amendments to tribunal procedure rules to mitigate against impact of COVID-19 on tribunal users and the judiciary

Changes made to the Tribunal Chambers' procedure rules to enable hearings on the papers without the parties' consent and for tribunals to conduct remote hearings in private in limited circumstances

9 April, 2020 Open access

‘Exceptional demand’ resulted in more than 2 million telephone calls being made to the DWP on a single day last week

Department is 'working around the clock' as a result of the challenging circumstances presented by the coronavirus outbreak, says Permanent Secretary

9 April, 2020 Open access

Universal credit claims in Northern Ireland have increased tenfold over the last three weeks

In addition, Communities Minister reports that 12,500 disability benefit review awards have been extended due to the coronavirus outbreak

9 April, 2020 Open access

Increase in maximum additional amount within funeral expenses payment in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule provides for change in response to coronavirus pandemic

9 April, 2020

Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland awarded a second year of grant funding to continue to deliver the universal credit ‘Help to Claim’ service

DWP's Permanent Secretary confirms that funding of up to £39 million has been made available to support vulnerable claimants

8 April, 2020 Open access

Work and Pensions Committee seeks evidence on how coronavirus is affecting people who need to rely on the benefits system

Evidence invited from those with personal experience of the benefits system, and from organisations

8 April, 2020 Open access

More than a third of firms plan to furlough most or all of their staff over the next week, new survey finds

British Chambers of Commerce findings suggest that at least a third of the private sector workforce will be furloughed and paid through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, costing as much as £40bn over the next three months

8 April, 2020 Open access

Four PIP review exercises paused during coronavirus outbreak

Updated DWP guidance also confirms that a fifth review exercise is now completed

8 April, 2020

EU national who worked for more than a year, and who was then involuntarily unemployed and registered at a jobcentre, retained worker status and did not need to show 'compelling evidence' of a 'genuine chance of being engaged' after six months

KH v Bury Metropolitan Borough Council and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (HB)
[2020] UKUT 50 (AAC)
CH/2389/2016

8 April, 2020

Attempts by First-tier Tribunals to appeal-proof decisions by use of a 'protective essay' in their statements of reasons are an improper attempt to discourage claimants from exercising their right to seek permission to appeal

CH v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (PIP)
[2020] UKUT 19 (AAC)
CPIP/2722/2018

7 April, 2020 Open access

Welfare rights

No one making a new claim for universal credit needs to call the DWP, says Secretary of State

New measure introduced in response to 'huge volumes of calls' that has lead to claimants waiting several hours on the helpline

DWP sets out how payments from coronavirus support schemes for employees and self-employed impact on housing benefit

Introduction of the Scottish Child Payment delayed due to coronavirus outbreak

Temporary amendments to tribunal procedure rules to mitigate against impact of COVID-19 on tribunal users and the judiciary

‘Exceptional demand’ resulted in more than 2 million telephone calls being made to the DWP on a single day last week

Universal credit claims in Northern Ireland have increased tenfold over the last three weeks

Increase in maximum additional amount within funeral expenses payment in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule provides for change in response to coronavirus pandemic

Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland awarded a second year of grant funding to continue to deliver the universal credit ‘Help to Claim’ service

Work and Pensions Committee seeks evidence on how coronavirus is affecting people who need to rely on the benefits system

More than a third of firms plan to furlough most or all of their staff over the next week, new survey finds

Four PIP review exercises paused during coronavirus outbreak

EU national who worked for more than a year, and who was then involuntarily unemployed and registered at a jobcentre, retained worker status and did not need to show 'compelling evidence' of a 'genuine chance of being engaged' after six months

Attempts by First-tier Tribunals to appeal-proof decisions by use of a 'protective essay' in their statements of reasons are an improper attempt to discourage claimants from exercising their right to seek permission to appeal

Extension of social security timescales in Scotland where delay is as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak

HMRC announces that parents of new-borns can claim child benefit without registering child’s birth

Government should temporarily raise or remove the benefit cap, says Institute for Fiscal Studies

Social security provisions for prisoners on temporary release due to coronavirus outbreak

Increase in maximum additional amount within funeral expenses payment from £700 to £1,000

DWP pauses deductions from benefits to recover loans under the Eligible Loan Deduction Scheme