Welfare rights news and case law

6 March, 2019

Value of outstanding housing benefit overpayments ‘continues to follow an increasing trend’

New DWP statistics show a total debt of £2.11 billion as at July 2018, up by £87 million on the same point in the previous year

6 March, 2019

Work and Pensions Committee highlights evidence that some jobcentres are moving claimants to universal credit when their circumstances have not changed

Letter to Secretary of State for Work and Pensions also says this seems to be happening without consideration of whether the move leaves claimants worse off

5 March, 2019

PIP assessments and work capability assessments for ESA and universal credit to be integrated into unified service by 2021

Work and Pensions Secretary also announces that PIP claimants at or above state pension age will no longer be subject to regular reviews

5 March, 2019

Only 38 per cent of universal credit claimants who attempted to use GOV.UK Verify were able to do so successfully

New NAO report concludes that Verify is 'an example of many of the failings in major programmes that we often see, including optimism bias and failure to set clear objectives'

5 March, 2019

DWP to explore 'Proof of Concept' for policy that universal credit claimants who are awaiting WCA should not be subject to conditionality

Responding to Work and Pensions Committee report, government also says that it will not start migration of ESA claimants to universal credit until process of reviewing and correcting ESA underpayments is complete

5 March, 2019

Scottish Government launches consultation on delivery of devolved disability assistance benefits

'We will not replicate a process that causes stress and anxiety', says Social Security Secretary

5 March, 2019

DWP confirms support available to help homeless people make claim for universal credit

Written answer to parliament includes advice that claimant who is sleeping rough can use local jobcentre as their address and that work coaches can use biographical questions to identify someone without ID

4 March, 2019

Absence of BSL signer who is reasonably required during DWP interview did not render evidence obtained inadmissible / whether every decision in overpayment period needs to be identified

CE/3316/2017

4 March, 2019

Uprating of pneumoconiosis lump sum payments 2019/2020

New statutory instrument

4 March, 2019

Earnings factors for the calculation of an additional state pension

New statutory instrument

1 March, 2019

High Court rules that failure to provide transitional protection for claimants who transferred to universal credit following incorrect legacy benefit decision was not unlawful

[2019] EWHC 462 (Admin)

1 March, 2019

Disregarding Scotland's carers allowance supplement in the calculation of income-related benefits in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

28 February, 2019

Scottish Government confirms timetable for delivery of remaining devolved benefits

Plans include for new claims for disability assistance for children and young people to start in summer 2020 and for delivery of PIP replacement for working age people in 2021

28 February, 2019

HMCTS provides update on tribunal reform programme including on ‘continuous online resolution’ processes in social security appeals

Pilot of processes to be tested in personal independence payment appeals with option for appellants to accept a ‘preliminary view’ to avoid the need for an oral hearing

28 February, 2019

DWP's 'workaround' to provide email communications to disabled claimant was sufficient to meet its duties under the Equality Act 2010

[2019] EWHC 395 (Admin)

28 February, 2019

Less than half of universal credit claimants say that they were made aware of all the 'main requirements' when they first made their claim

However, new research published by the DWP concludes that it has shown 'high and improving' levels of understanding about universal credit amongst claimants

28 February, 2019

Quarter of claimants say that the DWP did not take their personal circumstances into account when setting up their claimant commitment

Department says that the figure had not been published with its latest customer survey results 'due to an oversight'

28 February, 2019

Motability confirms it uses discretion to extend the six month vehicle retention period in DLA to PIP transfer appeal cases

Response to Select Committee inquiry also says the Scheme has supported almost half of claimants that choose the extended retention period beyond 26 weeks until their appeals are decided

28 February, 2019

Changes to mixed-age couple benefit rules expected to save more than £1 billion over the next 5 years

DWP publishes new analysis of changes being introduced in May 2019