Welfare rights news

1 May, 2020 Open access

Government issues Treasury Direction setting out the legal framework for the coronavirus Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

Made under provisions in the Coronavirus Act 2020, the new Direction requires HMRC to be responsible for the payment and management of amounts to be paid under the Scheme

1 May, 2020 Open access

Coalition of anti-poverty charities calls for new coronavirus emergency income support scheme in light of record increase in number of people supported by food banks

Scheme would include increase in benefits for children, suspending recovery of advance payments, and lifting benefit cap and two-child limit

1 May, 2020 Open access

DWP to publish daily counts of universal credit claims and advances on a weekly basis until the end of June 2020

New figures covering period from 1 March to 28 April 2020 will be published on 5 May, with further releases published every Tuesday thereafter

1 May, 2020

Social Security Administration and Tribunal Membership (Scotland) Bill introduced to Scottish Parliament

Bill provides for changes to social security provision, including in relation to offences and investigations in 'top up' benefits, and allows judges from other jurisdictions to sit on Scottish Tribunals

30 April, 2020 Open access

DWP ‘pausing’ third party deductions from universal credit payments until 10 May 2020

However, communication to stakeholders says that direct payments in respect of ongoing rent will continue

30 April, 2020 Open access

HMRC should amend the ‘furlough scheme’ to allow for short-time working during the COVID-19 outbreak, says Reform think tank

Change to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme would allow employees to continue to do some work, and give businesses greater flexibility to respond to the impacts of the crisis

30 April, 2020

Urgent investment in the advice sector is needed to ensure it can meet the demand for digital assistance required under Courts and Tribunals reform programme

Administrative Justice Council highlights that between a third and a half of the sector's service users would require support to access a digital justice system

30 April, 2020 Open access

Department for Communities extends call for evidence period for second independent review of PIP in Northern Ireland

Evidence can now be submitted up to 16 October 2020, with a final report to be laid with the Northern Ireland Assembly by 11 December 2020

29 April, 2020 Open access

Only ‘critical workers’ can access universal credit childcare while government’s response to coronavirus is in place, says DWP

Updated information added to Department's 'Understanding universal credit' pages on gov.uk

29 April, 2020 Open access

More than half a million claims made to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in its first week of being open for applications

Total value of claims is around £4.5 billion, Minister confirms in response to parliamentary written question

29 April, 2020 Open access

Charities and financial inclusion bodies offer support in delivering emergency hardship funds to households during coronavirus outbreak

Letter to Chancellor also recommends launch of emergency hardship fund to cover basic needs in addition to existing £500 million council tax hardship fund

28 April, 2020 Open access

DWP warns people that applying for universal credit will bring any tax credit claim to an end, even if they are not eligible for universal credit

Department also cautions that 'DWP and HMRC cannot advise whether claiming universal credit or tax credits will be better for you'

28 April, 2020 Open access

DWP confirms that it has no plans to remove sanctions or deductions ‘incurred’ before the coronavirus outbreak for claimants who are self-isolating

Suspending deductions for debts to third parties could lead to eviction or loss of service, says Work and Pensions Minister

28 April, 2020 Open access

Amendments to calculation of earnings for statutory family benefits and maternity allowance in Northern Ireland where workers are furloughed under Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

New statutory rules ensure that workers receive the same amount of benefit they would have if they had not been furloughed

28 April, 2020 Open access

Allowing electronic claims for state pension credit in response to coronavirus outbreak

New statutory instrument

28 April, 2020 Open access

Disability Benefits Consortium calls on government to extend universal credit and tax credits increase to all out of work benefits

Results of survey show that almost all disabled people have seen an increase in expenditure due to the coronavirus outbreak, with more than 90 per cent struggling to meet additional cost of food

28 April, 2020

Amendments to secondary legislation in consequence of the introduction of statutory parental bereavement leave and pay

New DWP guidance

28 April, 2020

Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grant expenditure for three months to December 2019 up by almost a quarter on same period in 2018

However, new statistics also show 3 per cent decrease in Community Care Grant expenditure compared to previous year

27 April, 2020 Open access

Select Committee hears that people are facing ‘serious difficulties’ in claiming benefits during the coronavirus outbreak

Having received survey responses from more than 6,000 people, Committee Chair says that 'we hope that Ministers will look carefully at what people have told us, and make changes'

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