Welfare rights news and case law

11 August, 2015

Government considering extending proposed four year residence requirement for tax credits to all British citizens

BBC reports that planned extension, which may mean that those aged under 22 are not eligible, follows warning that limiting requirement to EU migrants would be open to legal challenge

11 August, 2015

Unlawful for tribunal to take into account experience of reports by healthcare professionals in other cases without giving the DWP representative an opportunity to comment

CDLA/2437/2014

11 August, 2015

Initial error made by HMRC and not subsequently corrected by claimant was not an ‘official error’

CTC/3759/2014

10 August, 2015

UK Statistics Authority calls on DWP to provide more comprehensive analysis of sanction rates for JSA claimants

Recommendations include that Department should publish proportion of claimants sanctioned on yearly basis and ensure that all statements on sanctions are 'objective and impartial'

10 August, 2015

Absolute time limit of 13 months for an appeal may be extended in exceptional circumstances / need for oral hearing to determine whether claimant had received decision notices before appeal struck out

CH/5/2015

10 August, 2015

Pensions Minister calls on carers to sign up for carer’s credits

Baroness Altmann highlights that only 5 per cent of the 200,000 people who are eligible are currently receiving the national insurance credits

6 August, 2015

16.7 per cent of jobseekers sanctioned in year up to April 2014

Guardian's yearly estimate is in contrast to DWP statistics showing monthly figure of 6 per cent

6 August, 2015

Second decision on claim, made in ignorance of first decision, was not valid

CDLA/310/2015

6 August, 2015

More than 62,000 households have had their housing benefit capped since April 2013

New DWP statistics also show that, of those who are no longer subject to the cap, 41 per cent are exempt due to a working tax credit claim

5 August, 2015

Introduction of universal credit waiting days from 3 August 2015

New DWP guidance

5 August, 2015

Further roll-out of universal credit between September 2015 and April 2016

New DWP guidance

5 August, 2015

Tribunal should have considered attention needed by claimant when mobilising / approach to findings on care

CA/209/2015

4 August, 2015

Sharing of data on universal credit claimants with local authorities for council tax support purposes

DWP update on plans to migrate from manual to automated processes

4 August, 2015

Landlords convicted of illegally evicting a tenant could be required to repay equivalent of 12 months' housing benefit

Proposal contained in new DCLG consultation paper designed to tackle 'rogue landlords'

3 August, 2015

IIAC rejects call for prescription of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in woodworkers

Relationship between COPD and work with wood dusts is 'limited, of variable quality and inconsistent in its findings'

31 July, 2015

High Court dismisses challenge to legality of 'Skills Conditionality' and 'Post Work Programme Support' Schemes

[2015] EWHC 2284 (Admin)

31 July, 2015

New definition of ‘service user’ in the Computation of Earnings regulations

New DWP guidance

31 July, 2015

Proposed cuts to tax credits should be scrutinised by Select Committees, says Harriet Harman

Labour's acting leader writes to Prime Minister calling for £6bn cuts to be put on hold

30 July, 2015

Standard form of the Jobseekers Agreement in use in 2012/2013 was non-compliant with reg 31 of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations

CJSA/1409/2013