Welfare rights news and case law

12 January, 2016

Future of local welfare provision appears uncertain, says National Audit Office

New report highlights concern that, with reducing resources and competing pressures, many councils will be unable to continue offering support without specific government funding

12 January, 2016

Central and local government must co-ordinate to fill gaps in welfare safety net, say MPs

New Work and Pensions Committee report finds that principle of a state-guaranteed minimum income to prevent hardship and destitution is 'under threat'

12 January, 2016

Employment support for Wales should be devolved to Welsh Government, says Public Policy Institute for Wales

New report also recommends development of Employment and Skills Strategy to address long-term worklessness

11 January, 2016

Scottish Secretary outlines devolved welfare powers that will be available to new Scottish Parliament after May 2016 election

With manifestos being written 'as we speak', David Mundell encourages people to join in debate on how the new powers should be used

11 January, 2016

New state pension is ‘widely misunderstood’, says Work and Pensions Committee

New interim report recommends urgent changes to pension statements which are currently 'insufficiently clear'

11 January, 2016

Relationship between deferral of state retirement pension and pension credit / appeal dismissed on basis of consent order involving payment of compensation to claimant

CP/2202/2013

8 January, 2016

Duties of a First-tier tribunal when previous medical reports and tribunal decisions are not provided or the tribunal are unaware of them

CSE/19/2014

8 January, 2016

Work coaches to 'do more to identify claimants likely to require hardship payments' after a sanction, says Secretary of State

Writing to the Work and Pensions Committee, Mr Duncan Smith also includes a copy of new vulnerability guidance for work coaches

8 January, 2016

Commons votes unanimously in favour of motion calling for transitional arrangements for women negatively affected by equalisation of state pension age

Concern expressed that government has not and is not giving women enough time to prepare alternative plans

8 January, 2016

Contracted-out health and disability benefit assessments still not providing value for money, says NAO

Cost of providing assessments is rising and providers are struggling to meet expected performance standards

8 January, 2016

Government responds to Work and Pensions Select Committee’s October 2015 welfare-to-work report

Responding to call for more to be done to support those with complex needs, government highlights ambition to develop a 'more sophisticated segmentation approach'

7 January, 2016

Specific mental illness or disability need only be 'effective' cause of inability to perform activity, and need not be the root or primary cause

CE/1703/2015

7 January, 2016

Commons motion calling on the government to reverse its decision to cut the universal credit work allowance defeated by 35 votes

People affected will benefit from improved support, says Under-Secretary of State for Disabled People

7 January, 2016

Remote risk of adverse event does not mean activity cannot be carried out safely / PIP descriptors satisfied even if only apply for part of day

CPIP/2287/2015

7 January, 2016

Aids and appliances do not apply to mobility descriptor 2(c) / no requirement to consider ability to move with aids beyond 50m

CPIP/4572/2014

7 January, 2016

Welfare rights

Future of local welfare provision appears uncertain, says National Audit Office

New report highlights concern that, with reducing resources and competing pressures, many councils will be unable to continue offering support without specific government funding

Central and local government must co-ordinate to fill gaps in welfare safety net, say MPs

Employment support for Wales should be devolved to Welsh Government, says Public Policy Institute for Wales

Scottish Secretary outlines devolved welfare powers that will be available to new Scottish Parliament after May 2016 election

New state pension is ‘widely misunderstood’, says Work and Pensions Committee

Relationship between deferral of state retirement pension and pension credit / appeal dismissed on basis of consent order involving payment of compensation to claimant

Duties of a First-tier tribunal when previous medical reports and tribunal decisions are not provided or the tribunal are unaware of them

CSE/19/2014

Work coaches to 'do more to identify claimants likely to require hardship payments' after a sanction, says Secretary of State

Commons votes unanimously in favour of motion calling for transitional arrangements for women negatively affected by equalisation of state pension age

Contracted-out health and disability benefit assessments still not providing value for money, says NAO

Government responds to Work and Pensions Select Committee’s October 2015 welfare-to-work report

Specific mental illness or disability need only be 'effective' cause of inability to perform activity, and need not be the root or primary cause

Commons motion calling on the government to reverse its decision to cut the universal credit work allowance defeated by 35 votes

Remote risk of adverse event does not mean activity cannot be carried out safely / PIP descriptors satisfied even if only apply for part of day

Aids and appliances do not apply to mobility descriptor 2(c) / no requirement to consider ability to move with aids beyond 50m

Factors to consider in establishing whether the beneficial interests of an ISA lie other than with the claimant

Advance claims for the new state pension

Severe visual impairment and the higher rate mobility component of DLA

Assistance applying an emollient cream may constitute ‘therapy’ for the purposes of PIP Activity 3