Welfare rights news and case law

25 February, 2016

Industrial Injuries Advisory Council recommends that terms for Prescribed Disease A1 should be extended

Council notes that current terms were set in 1999 and new international evidence has since accrued on the health effects of chronic exposure to ionising radiation

25 February, 2016

Abolition of family premium and limiting backdating in housing benefit

New DWP guidance also advises that there is no entitlement to severe disability premium where a carer has a universal credit award including the carer element

24 February, 2016

Date of first payment of PIP for terminally ill claimants transferring from DLA

New statutory instrument

24 February, 2016

MPs reject Lords amendment and vote to keep proposed cuts to ESA and corresponding cuts to universal credit

House of Commons also vote against Lords amendment to include income related measures of child poverty in Welfare Reform Bill

24 February, 2016

Help with NHS optical costs in Scotland

New statutory instrument

24 February, 2016

5.8 per cent of lone parents on income support sanctioned in year to September 2015

New DWP statistics show that this equates to 37,300 individual claimants - some of whom were sanctioned more than once

23 February, 2016

Government publishes White Paper that includes powers to 'reduce the unnatural draw of our benefits system'

Prime Minister welcomes 'tough new restrictions' that will mean that people 'can no longer take out before putting something in'

23 February, 2016

Government publishes new statistics on benefit and tax credits claims from EEA nationals

New figures include estimates of 2013/2014 expenditure on tax credits and the main DWP working-age benefits

23 February, 2016

SSAC launches consultation on decision making and mandatory reconsideration

Evidence sought by 15 March 2016 on DWP and HMRC decision making across the benefit system

23 February, 2016

Discretionary housing payments worth almost £47m due to be made in Scotland in 2015/2016

Scottish Government say that average awards are £463 and are typically to cover shortfalls in housing costs

23 February, 2016

DWP publishes new decision making and appeals guide for Work Programme providers

Guide reminds providers that 'to mandate a participant correctly, you must ensure certain policy and procedural requirements are met, and legal regulations are adhered to'

23 February, 2016

Introduction of the new state pension for people reaching pensionable age on or after 6 April 2016

New statutory instrument

22 February, 2016

European Union leaders agree proposals for EU migrant benefit restrictions

Legislation to be brought forward to provide for an 'emergency brake' on in-work benefits and for curbs on child benefit entitlement

19 February, 2016

DWP publishes ‘single departmental plan’ setting out its priority objectives for 2015 to 2020

Plan details how the Department will deliver the government’s priorities and manifesto commitments over the current Parliament

19 February, 2016

DWP outlines plans to share information on those affected by benefit cap changes with local authorities

New housing benefit information bulletin

19 February, 2016

Introduction of statutory arrangements for the operation of welfare funds in Scotland

New regulations in force from 1 April 2016

19 February, 2016

Section 18 (end-of-year) decision in tax credits lapses an appeal against a previous section 16 (in-year) decision

CTC/1212/2015

18 February, 2016

32 local authorities will have more than 800 households affected by the reduced benefit cap, estimates DWP

New research and analysis finds the worst affected authority - Birmingham and Solihull - will have over 4,000 households affected

18 February, 2016

DWP launches consultation on revised code of practice on obtaining information to deal with fraud

Views sought by 31 March 2016