Welfare rights news and case law

16 March, 2018

Thousands of parents may be losing out on pension entitlements following January 2013 child benefit changes

Problem was 'wholly foreseeable and preventable', says Treasury Committee

16 March, 2018

DWP warns social landlords to expect increase in number of rent verification requests in relation to full service universal credit claimants

Previous plan, to take a risk-based approach and not request verification in every case, not now possible because of delay in updating the Landlord Portal

16 March, 2018

Increase in carer’s allowance earnings limit in Northern Ireland from April 2018

New statutory rule

15 March, 2018

Court of Appeal rules that the benefit cap does not unlawfully discriminate against lone parents with children under two

[2018] EWCA Civ 504

15 March, 2018

Government provides update on process for identifying claimants who are owed ESA following conversion from incapacity benefit

Secretary of State says priority will be given to people who are terminally ill and then to those most likely to have been underpaid

15 March, 2018

Women’s rights organisations write to Scottish Social Security Committee calling for automatic split payments of universal credit in Scotland

Letter responds to the rejection of a proposed amendment to bring in the measure at Stage 2 consideration of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill

15 March, 2018

DWP issues guidance to local authorities on recent miscellaneous amendments to universal credit

New housing benefit guidance highlights changes to the funding of housing costs for temporary accommodation and the two-week transition to universal credit housing payment

15 March, 2018

Guardian’s allowance uprating 2018/2019

New statutory instrument

14 March, 2018

Children are hardest hit by recent social security and tax reforms, says EHRC

Cumulative impact assessment estimates that one and a half million more children will be in poverty by 2022

14 March, 2018

Complying with High Court's judgment on PIP mobility component will cost around £0.4 billion per year

Office for Budget Responsibility also says that spending will be £0.6 billion higher in 2019/2020 as DWP reviews stock of previous cases

14 March, 2018

HMRC delays new initiative for the transfer of tax credit debts to the DWP by 6 months

Scheduled policy start date has been put back to October 2018 due to problems with existing HMRC and DWP IT systems

14 March, 2018

Commons votes against annulling regulations that introduce an earnings threshold for free school meals under universal credit

It is simply not true to say that we are introducing a cliff edge, says Education Secretary

14 March, 2018

Miscellaneous amendments to tax credits

New statutory instrument

13 March, 2018

Only 11 per cent of claimants who receive support for mortgage interest have taken up offer for replacement loan payments

Written answers in the House of Commons also confirm that around 16,000 claimants are considering their options

13 March, 2018

Changes to the Funeral Expenses Payments Scheme in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

12 March, 2018

Evidence required to accompany an application for a national insurance number in order for child benefit to be paid

CF/1556/2016

12 March, 2018

Engaging with others requires an ability to engage with adults as well as children and young people / ability to communicate by text is not relevant to PIP activity 9

CPIP/2034/2017

12 March, 2018

Procedures for rate relief appeals to the Valuation Tribunal in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

9 March, 2018

6 per cent of full service universal credit awards had a 40 per cent deduction rate applied in January 2018

Parliamentary written answer also advises that around 0.5 per cent of awards had a total deduction amount which exceeded 40 per cent of the standard allowance