Welfare rights news and case law

13 September, 2016

Changes to weather stations and postcode districts for social fund cold weather payments purposes

New statutory instrument

12 September, 2016

Impact on housing benefit of exchanging annuity income for a cash lump sum

New DWP guidance

12 September, 2016

Noise induced hearing loss and work with nailing and stapling guns

Industrial Injuries Advisory Council review concludes there is insufficient evidence to recommend prescription

9 September, 2016

Refugees and their families will not be subject to the ‘past presence test’ when applying for disability benefits and carer's allowance

DWP also confirms it is not appealing decision which found that the 'past presence test' discriminates against refugees

8 September, 2016

Number of claimants placed in the ESA support group fell from 91,500 to 57,000 in the three months to March 2016

New DWP statistics also show that just 4 per cent of fit for work mandatory reconsiderations resulted in revision in July 2016

8 September, 2016

Number of social security appeals in the quarter to June 2016 up 21 per cent on same period last year

New Ministry of Justice statistics also show that 65 per cent of PIP appeals are decided in the claimant's favour

8 September, 2016

Scottish Government announces new employment support programmes from April 2017

Two new programmes will provide employment support for up to 4,800 people with a disability or long term health condition

8 September, 2016

Department for Communities launches new benefit take-up strategy for Northern Ireland

Three-year strategy aims to provide a minimum of 100,000 people with a full benefit entitlement check and deliver at least £40 million in additional benefits

8 September, 2016

New commencement order in relation to the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order

New statutory rule

7 September, 2016

New Social Security Bill in Scotland will be introduced by the end of the Parliamentary year

Plans outlined in the 'Government's Programme for Scotland 2016/2017'

7 September, 2016

Amendments to the council tax reduction scheme in Scotland

New statutory instrument

7 September, 2016

Total value of outstanding housing benefit overpayments continues to follow an 'increasing trend'

However, new DWP statistics also show that the value of overpayments identified has seen large fluctuations during 2015/2016

6 September, 2016

Universal credit has come back from the brink of disaster and is ‘in recovery mode’

However, new report from the Institute for Government also finds that huge challenges remain and success is far from certain

6 September, 2016

Universal credit needs a ‘reboot’ to help solve poverty in the UK

New report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation also calls for reform of welfare-to-work, pensioner benefits and increases to child related benefits

5 September, 2016

Scottish Parliament takes on new powers allowing it to adapt existing UK welfare system

Minister for Scotland says the UK Government is working with the Scottish Government on technical aspects of the new welfare powers

5 September, 2016

Welfare reforms will lead to closure of 67 per cent of refuges in England, says Women’s Aid

New statistics also show that proposed caps on housing benefit would lead to 87 per cent of domestic abuse refuges in England reducing service provision

5 September, 2016

Tribunal failed to properly consider whether claimant had good reason for failing to participate in Mandatory Work Activity

CJSA/3205/2014

2 September, 2016

Claimant not a ‘family member’ of legal guardian brother for ‘right to reside’ purposes

CIS/217/2016

2 September, 2016

Claimant already working voluntarily had good reason for failing to undertake mandatory work activity

CJSA/4095/2014