Welfare rights news

13 March, 2017

Disregard of payments from the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme when calculating means tested benefits

New statutory instrument

13 March, 2017

Earnings factors for the calculation of an additional state pension

New statutory instrument

10 March, 2017

Earnings thresholds introduced in universal credit to limit automatic entitlement to full help with health costs in Wales

New statutory instrument

10 March, 2017

Amendment of the benefit cap earnings exception threshold for universal credit claimants

New DWP guidance

10 March, 2017

Removal of the work-related activity component in ESA and introduction of the two child limit in universal credit in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

10 March, 2017

Commencement of bereavement support payment from 6 April 2017

New statutory instrument

10 March, 2017

Fees in respect of administrative expenses incurred by Secretary of State in making payments of mortgage interest direct to lenders

New statutory instrument

9 March, 2017

35 per cent of ESA claimants placed in support group after initial assessment

However, new DWP statistics also show that initial ESA assessments have the highest fit for work outcome rate at 47 per cent

9 March, 2017

Social security tribunal receipts up 47 per cent compared to the same period last year

New statistics from the Ministry of Justice highlight that the increasing trend is driven by PIP and ESA appeals

9 March, 2017

Disregard of payments and reimbursements of costs of pensions advice when calculating Class 1 National Insurance contributions

New statutory instrument

9 March, 2017

New Burdens payments for local authorities to help cope with removal of ESA work-related activity component

DWP issues new housing benefit guidance

9 March, 2017

Amendments to the definition of 'registered social worker' for the purposes of universal credit, JSA and ESA

New statutory instrument

9 March, 2017

Miscellaneous amendments to social fund payments

New statutory instrument

8 March, 2017

Chancellor announces increase in Class 4 National Insurance contributions to reflect increased access to new state pension for self-employed

Rate will rise by one per cent in April 2018 and by a further one per cent a year later

6 March, 2017

Universal credit consent process is a 'barrier to justice, says chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee

New rule 'makes the job more tiresome, slows it down, and creates more work for constituents'

6 March, 2017

Local authorities in Scotland to receive £57.9 million funding for DHPs in 2017/2018

Scottish Government says this represents a £7.7 million increase in funding compared to 2016/2017

6 March, 2017

Extrinsic allergic alveolitis added to list of prescribed diseases caused by chemical agents

New statutory instrument

3 March, 2017

Removal of entitlement to universal credit housing costs for some claimants aged 18 to 21

New statutory instrument

3 March, 2017

Scottish Government starts recruitment to social security ‘Experience Panels’

Panel members will help design, build, and refine a new and better social security system, says Social Security Minister