Welfare rights news and case law

14 July, 2017

National Audit Office qualifies HMRC's 2016/2017 accounts due to ‘material’ levels of error and fraud in tax credits

Comptroller and Auditor General says increase in error and fraud is contrary to significant reductions achieved in previous years, with the rate expected to increase further

14 July, 2017

Effect of gaps in legal residence while in the UK on the acquisition of a right of permanent residence

CE/1188/2016

14 July, 2017

Standard of reasons required in a decision refusing to extend a time limit to supply a written statement of reasons

CE/216/2017

13 July, 2017

Government 'likely to wish to consider' risks surrounding implementation of universal credit, says Office for Budget Responsibility

Resilience of the system and its ability to cope with greater volumes and complexity yet to be fully tested

13 July, 2017

Frank Field announced as chair of the Work and Pensions Committee

Labour MP for Birkenhead was the sole nomination for the position and was therefore declared elected, unopposed

12 July, 2017

Number of people on universal credit reaches 540,000

New DWP statistics show this represents a 2 per cent increase on the previous months' claimant count

11 July, 2017

Reduction of the universal credit taper rate in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

11 July, 2017

Miscellaneous amendments relating to the removal of the ESA work-related activity component in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

11 July, 2017

Removal of the universal credit limited capability for work element in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

11 July, 2017

Increase in local housing allowance rates used when calculating universal credit in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

11 July, 2017

Amendment of the benefit cap earnings exception threshold for universal credit claimants in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

10 July, 2017

Ability to understand body language and visual cues is relevant when assessing whether a claimant with severe visual impairment can engage with others

CPIP/3707/2016

10 July, 2017

Availability of discretionary housing payments for universal credit claimants in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

10 July, 2017

Removal of entitlement to universal credit housing costs for some claimants aged 18 to 21 in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

7 July, 2017

Loan payments to replace support for mortgage interest from 6 April 2018

New statutory instrument

7 July, 2017

Citizens Advice calls on the government to pause the roll out of universal credit

System is already failing too many people, pushing them into debt and leaving them without the means to make ends meet

7 July, 2017

Miscellaneous amendments to working-age social security benefits in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

6 July, 2017

Risk of police involvement increased by claiming non-consensual conception exception to the two child limit in Northern Ireland

Scrutiny Committee says that interaction with Criminal Law Act puts third party assessors in an 'invidious position' and makes it likely that women will not claim the benefit they are entitled to

6 July, 2017

DWP estimates that 88,000 households were in scope for lower benefit cap in 2016/2017

New analysis also highlights that 43,000 subject to the cap were lone parents with a youngest child under the age of five