Welfare rights news and case law

30 November, 2015

Social support does not need to be given at time claimant engages with other people / tribunal wrong to concentrate on PIP eligibility at date of decision rather than during required period of 12 months

CPIP/1984/2015

27 November, 2015

Whether entitlement to a Danish pension meant a claimant had comprehensive sickness insurance / whether part-time self-employed work was genuine and effective

CPC/3281/2014

27 November, 2015

Only 74 per cent of DLA claims reassessed will be successful in a PIP award, estimates Office for Budget Responsibility

Latest evidence from DWP also suggests that PIP reassessments will not be completed until 2018/2019

26 November, 2015

DWP issues Urgent Bulletin following benefit cap High Court judgment

DWP says that it will continue to apply the benefit cap as now whilst it considers its position

26 November, 2015

Failure to exempt people in receipt of carer's allowance from benefit cap is unlawful discrimination in breach of Article 14

[2015] EWHC 3382 (Admin)

26 November, 2015

Benefit uprating 2016/2017

New rates now available

26 November, 2015

Tax credit, child benefit and guardian’s allowance uprating 2016/2017

New rates now available

26 November, 2015

Government publishes second response to Paul Gray's independent review of personal independence payment assessments

Response sets out actions the DWP has taken or will take in relation to Mr Gray's medium and long-term recommendations

26 November, 2015

Secretary of State's appeal against decision that was in his favour, but that separately found DLA regulation 12(1A) - severe visual impairment and high rate mobility - to be ultra vires, was incompetent

[2015] CSIH 82

25 November, 2015

Welfare benefit related highlights in today’s Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015

Chancellor confirms that proposed tax credit cuts will not go ahead, but that welfare cap will not be met from 2016/2017 to 2018/2019

25 November, 2015

DWP confirms that jobseeker's allowance claimants are not sanctioned for failing to answer their telephone

However, Employment Minister also advises that universal credit claimants who fail to participate in prearranged telephone interview may be referred for sanction

25 November, 2015

44,100 sanctions imposed on lone parent income support claimants in year to June 2015

New DWP statistics show that this represents 6 per cent of client base

25 November, 2015

Northern Ireland (Welfare Reform) Bill receives second and third readings in House of Lords

Expedited Bill now ready for Royal Assent

25 November, 2015

Number of starts on Skills Conditionality has dropped by over 50 per cent in the last year

New DWP statistics also show that the number of starts on Mandatory Work Activity dropped by 23 per cent

24 November, 2015

42 per cent of people who were eligible to claim income-based JSA in 2013/2014 did not make a claim

Report from the New Policy Institute also finds that while the proportion of the population in poverty has not changed significantly, the mix has changed

24 November, 2015

Roll-out of the universal credit Digital Service

New statutory instrument

24 November, 2015

Scottish local authorities awarded 92,000 discretionary housing payments betweeen April and September 2015

New statistics also show that total value of awards spent or committed across Scotland was £43.9m

24 November, 2015

Northern Ireland (Welfare Reform) Bill passes all of House of Commons stages in one day

Accelerated procedure needed to 'underpin the stability and survival of power-sharing devolved institutions at Stormont', says Northern Ireland Secretary

23 November, 2015

Universal credit ‘outline business case’ awaiting approval by Treasury Ministers

Written answer from Employment Minister also confirms that 'full business case' will follow for approval by end of 2017