Welfare rights news and case law

28 November, 2023

Government publishes proposed benefit and state pension rates for 2024/2025

Issuing of new figures follows last week's statement on uprating from the Work and Pensions Secretary

28 November, 2023

DWP confirms that its Conversational Platform telephony system will go live in universal credit from 30 November 2023

Updating stakeholders, Department adds that initial phase will only involve around two per cent of calls, but that it aims to reach 'steady state' in around three months

28 November, 2023

Government confirms that interest rate used to calculate SMI payments is to increase to 3.16 per cent

Based on the Bank of England average, new rate will come into effect from 11 December 2023

28 November, 2023

DWP issues reminder that pension credit claims made by 10 December 2023 could bring in entitlement to extra £300 cost of living payment due to backdating rules

Department also confirms that the £300 pensioner cost of living payment is being issued over the next two months alongside this year's winter fuel payment

27 November, 2023

Chancellor creates confusion over future of Household Support Fund in 2024/2025

While Mr Hunt told Parliament last week that there will be a Fund next year, local authority sources suggest they have been advised otherwise

27 November, 2023

Senior Coroner promises ‘full and fearless’ second inquest into death of Jodey Whiting

Pre-Inquest Review confirms that medical evidence and the Independent Case Examiner's highly critical report on the DWP will be considered at the inquest

27 November, 2023

Scottish Social Justice Secretary expresses ‘deep concern’ about UK Government’s proposed changes to work capability assessment

In addition, Ms Somerville says that the proposed extension of the sanctions regime will have a very significant impact on some of the most vulnerable people, and that the government needs to act on benefits rates to ensure that everyone can afford the basics needed for survival

23 November, 2023

Government to freeze LHA rates again from 2025/2026 after announcing an increase for next year in yesterday’s Autumn Statement

Office for Budget Responsibility highlights that, as rental prices increase, the freeze after just one year will therefore erode generosity of increased rates over time

23 November, 2023

OBR forecasts that LCWRA caseload will reduce by more than 370,000 by 2028/2029 as a result of government’s proposed changes to the WCA

While the behavioural response to the reforms is 'uncertain', OBR also estimates that loss of income and higher conditionality will lead to a rise in employment of around 10,000 over the same period

23 November, 2023

Government tables amendments to Data Protection Bill to allow the DWP to carry out regular checks on benefit claimants’ bank accounts

Work and Pensions Secretary says new powers to check claimants' finances without first needing to establish suspicion of fraud will be used 'proportionately'

23 November, 2023

Learning and Work Institute and Carers Trust call on government to exempt young adult carers from full-time education rule in carer’s allowance

Pointing out that young adult carers often miss out on learning, letter to Secretary of State highlights the 'long-lasting educational and economic benefits' for individuals and the country that the change would bring

23 November, 2023

Unless decisive action is taken, Scottish Government will find that its commitments and targets to tackle child poverty will become unachievable, say MSPs

Social Justice and Social Security Committee calls for more clarity about the priorities of the Best Start Bright Futures Delivery Plan with explicit delivery and spending plans set against them

22 November, 2023

Government confirms plans to ‘get people into work to deliver growth’ as part of ‘biggest set of welfare reforms in a decade’

Delivering his Autumn Statement today, Chancellor says that many people can and want to work 'but our system makes that too hard'

22 November, 2023

Chancellor announces benefits to be increased by September 2023’s inflation figure next year and LHA rates to be increased to the 30th percentile of rents

Autumn Statement also confirms triple lock to be maintained, with pensions to increase by 8.5 per cent

22 November, 2023

Government issues response to September 2023 consultation on reforms to the work capability assessment

Response confirms amendment of LCWRA 'substantial risk' provisions, removal of LCWRA 'mobilising' activity, and reduction in points awarded for LCW 'getting about' descriptors, with reforms to be implemented for new claims from 2025 onwards

22 November, 2023

Increases in the transitional severe disability premium element in universal credit for those who were entitled to other disability premiums prior to migrating

New statutory instrument made in response to High Court judgment in January 2022 which found that failure to compensate claimants for loss of additional disability premiums was unlawful

22 November, 2023

Ensuring that a Category D retirement pension can continue to be claimed by people residing in an EEA state or Switzerland

New statutory instrument

21 November, 2023

MoJ evaluation finds that enabling access to early legal advice not only helps people solve their problems quickly but can also improve finances and health

However, while welcoming the recognition that providing support is a cost-effective investment, Law Society calls for a sustainably funded legal system rather than 'expecting advice-providers to live hand-to-mouth on precarious government grants'

21 November, 2023

Parliamentary Ombudsman provides update on delays to its final report on DWP’s communication of changes to women’s state pension age

Following a 'complex' investigation, provisional views on remedies for maladministration have been sent to complainants and the DWP, with their responses to be considered before final decisions are made