Welfare rights news

25 November, 2008

Replacing paper-based ‘sick notes’ with electronic ‘fit notes’

Government announces proposals to help people stay in work rather than claim benefit

25 November, 2008

Time running out for government to meet its child poverty target

Leading advice organisations respond to the 2008 pre-Budget report

25 November, 2008

Tax credit, child benefit and guardian’s allowance uprating 2009/2010

New rates now available

25 November, 2008

One-off payment to pensioners and other claimants

DWP confirms detail of proposal following pre-Budget report announcement

24 November, 2008

Welfare benefit and tax credit highlights in today’s pre-Budget report

'Facing global challenges: Supporting people through difficult times'

24 November, 2008

New benefit rules will give lone parents a ‘real choice about their future’

Work conditionality extended despite calls for government to delay reforms

21 November, 2008

Government rejects call for extension of lone parent welfare to work conditionality to be delayed

Reforms will push people into poverty, says Chair of the Social Security Advisory Committee

20 November, 2008

Organisation of Disability Employment Advisers across Jobcentre Plus

New DWP research

20 November, 2008

National roll out of the ‘In and out of work’ process

New statutory instrument

20 November, 2008

Jobcentre Plus delays result in record backlog of unprocessed claims

DWP confirms targets missed in 25% of cases

20 November, 2008

Contracting out welfare to work programmes not a ‘simple option’

New JRF research on Australian and Dutch initiatives

19 November, 2008

Meaning of ‘locality’ in determining the local reference rent for HB purposes

Government to legislate to restore policy intent following recent House of Lords judgment

18 November, 2008

Social Security Advisory Committee expresses concern at increase in benefit conditionality and complexity

SSAC chairman reflects on challenging year as government accelerates the pace of its welfare reforms

17 November, 2008

Introduction of the First-tier and Upper tribunals from November 2008

New DWP guidance

14 November, 2008

Reporting changes in circumstances with just one visit or phone call

DWP to launch 'Tell us once' pilot

14 November, 2008

Aligning the incapacity benefit and ESA work-focused interview regimes

New statutory instrument

13 November, 2008

Post Office’s card account contract to be renewed

Facility used by more than 4 million claimants is central to the viability of the Post Office network, says Secretary of State

13 November, 2008

Dealing with HB claims from those living in ‘exempt accommodation’

New DWP guidance

12 November, 2008

Government urged to increase JSA rates in this month’s pre-Budget report

TUC calls for reform as unemployment nears two million