Welfare rights news and case law

11 January, 2018

96 per cent of 18 to 21-year-old universal credit housing costs claimants awarded support since automatic entitlement ended in April 2017

New DWP statistics also show that half of successful claimants were exempt from the policy because they had dependent children

11 January, 2018

In considering whether to proceed without an oral hearing, a tribunal must consider whether it is fair, not merely if it has 'sufficient material'

CE/2606/2017

11 January, 2018

Amendments to council tax reduction schemes in Wales

New statutory instrument

10 January, 2018

Managed payments to private landlords under universal credit can be set up without the tenant's consent where there are two months arrears

Minister confirms that requests can be made by email and on a single form

10 January, 2018

Children may provide ‘prompting’ if their presence motivates a claimant to undertake PIP activities

CPIP/2354/2017

10 January, 2018

3 per cent increase in local housing allowance rates in areas subject to high rent increases in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule also applies a 3 per cent increase in maximum LHA levels

9 January, 2018

New ministerial appointments at the Department for Work and Pensions

Alok Sharma and Kit Malthouse complete the ministerial team as Minister of State for Employment and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

8 January, 2018

Esther McVey appointed as new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Former DWP Minister replaces David Gauke who moves to Ministry of Justice in cabinet reshuffle

5 January, 2018

Help available from the DWP for victims of domestic violence and abuse

New DWP guidance

5 January, 2018

Tribunal’s duty to explain relevance of PIP claimant’s caring responsibilities if referring to them

CPIP/1950/2017

5 January, 2018

'Prescribed date' for the purposes of superseding an award can be any date during period of current award

CPIP/2418/2016

4 January, 2018

Proposal for a ‘transition to universal credit housing payment’ taken on formal reference by SSAC

However, Committee decides not to carry out a public consultation before drafting a report for the Secretary of State to be laid in Parliament

4 January, 2018

Tribunal erred in law by failing to identify grounds for supersession of a PIP decision that resulted in a different outcome

CPIP/2013/2017

4 January, 2018

Whether a tribunal was correct to decide that an EU national retained worker status during temporary illness / guidance on interpreting National Insurance contribution records

CE/2386/2016

3 January, 2018

A ‘SatNav’ is not an orientation aid unless specially designed or modified to assist the disabled

CPIP/3759/2016

2 January, 2018

Consideration must be given as to whether the 35 hour work search requirement should be reduced or lifted

CUC/1808/2017

2 January, 2018

Vital that in-work conditionality within universal credit provides effective support to enable people to progress

New report from the Resolution Foundation calls for new measures to ensure that those eligible for benefits are claiming them

2 January, 2018

Drawing an adverse inference when the DWP fails to supply evidence as directed by a tribunal / proving authorisation of Employment Scheme providers

CJSA/1744/2015

2 January, 2018

Miscellaneous amendments to social security legislation in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule