Welfare rights news and case law

1 September, 2016

More than 19,000 council tax support claimants in London faced bailiff action in 2015/2016

New report from CPAG and Z2K also finds that more than 131,000 council tax support claimants were in arrears and 81,000 claimants were charged a total of £8.9 million in court costs

1 September, 2016

Claimant cannot be sanctioned for failing to undertake unreasonable work-related activity

CE/4587/2014

1 September, 2016

Tenanted flat not a disregarded ‘business asset’

CH/4612/2014

31 August, 2016

Funding and responsibility for the new Work and Health Programme should be fully devolved to local councils, says LGA

Council leaders also warn that without adequate funding the Programme will not deliver either the right level of support or meet the needs of enough people

31 August, 2016

Brexit could have ‘significant implications’ for the social security rights of European and UK nationals, says House of Commons Library

New briefing explores impact of UK withdrawal from the European Union

31 August, 2016

Social security system needs reform to avoid ‘mass impoverishment’ in the 2020s, says Fabian Society

Proposed reforms include more generous means-testing, increased universal entitlements and more contributory benefits

31 August, 2016

9.7 per cent decrease in numbers claiming council tax reduction in Scotland

New Scottish Government statistics

30 August, 2016

Falling asleep does not amount to ‘lost or altered consciousness’

CSE/138/2016

26 August, 2016

DWP estimates that 107,000 adults and 244,000 children will be affected by benefit cap when reduced levels are introduced from November 2016

New impact assessment indicates the average loss per household will be £60 per week

26 August, 2016

‘Steps 2 Success’ mandatory work scheme in Northern Ireland helps 21 per cent of claimants into work

New statistics also reveal that of the 31,773 who have been mandated to the scheme, only 2,854 have achieved employment of 6 months or more

25 August, 2016

Only eight per cent of GPoW interviews result in an extension of jobseeker’s allowance

New DWP statistics also show that the caseload of EEA nationals claiming housing benefit has decreased 75 per cent since restrictions were introduced in April 2014

25 August, 2016

Requirement for 'compelling evidence' does not raise the bar any higher than the need to show genuine chance of being engaged in work

CJSA/2042/2015

24 August, 2016

Housing benefit must be made ‘significantly more generous’ or large numbers of people will become homeless, says Fabian Society

New research estimates 1.5 million low-income households will face increasing monthly shortfalls between housing benefit and rent by 2020

23 August, 2016

Tribunal has no power to refuse a written request to withdraw a part heard appeal unless it has directed that consent is required

CIB/1908/2014

22 August, 2016

Welfare rights

More than 19,000 council tax support claimants in London faced bailiff action in 2015/2016

New report from CPAG and Z2K also finds that more than 131,000 council tax support claimants were in arrears and 81,000 claimants were charged a total of £8.9 million in court costs

Claimant cannot be sanctioned for failing to undertake unreasonable work-related activity

Tenanted flat not a disregarded ‘business asset’

Funding and responsibility for the new Work and Health Programme should be fully devolved to local councils, says LGA

Brexit could have ‘significant implications’ for the social security rights of European and UK nationals, says House of Commons Library

Social security system needs reform to avoid ‘mass impoverishment’ in the 2020s, says Fabian Society

9.7 per cent decrease in numbers claiming council tax reduction in Scotland

New Scottish Government statistics

Falling asleep does not amount to ‘lost or altered consciousness’

DWP estimates that 107,000 adults and 244,000 children will be affected by benefit cap when reduced levels are introduced from November 2016

‘Steps 2 Success’ mandatory work scheme in Northern Ireland helps 21 per cent of claimants into work

Only eight per cent of GPoW interviews result in an extension of jobseeker’s allowance

Requirement for 'compelling evidence' does not raise the bar any higher than the need to show genuine chance of being engaged in work

Housing benefit must be made ‘significantly more generous’ or large numbers of people will become homeless, says Fabian Society

Tribunal has no power to refuse a written request to withdraw a part heard appeal unless it has directed that consent is required

Housing benefit spending on private rented households doubles to £9.3 billion

Tribunal rules and time limits in Scotland

Benefits for young people receiving ‘continuing care’ from children’s services in Scotland

Treatment of postgraduate master’s degree loans and special support loans for means-tested benefit purposes

Benefit changes needed to help tackle homelessness, says Communities and Local Government Select Committee