Welfare rights news and case law

9 February, 2024

DWP confirms that it is increasing the amount of universal credit claims data that is available on its ‘Searchlight’ customer information system

Latest Welfare Direct Bulletin to local authorities also outlines increased sharing of universal credit data with local council tax reduction schemes

8 February, 2024

DWP Permanent Secretary sets out range of outcomes that can follow a referral for an Internal Process Review

Peter Schofield advises, that even where a case does not meet the criteria for an IPR, there is a process in place to encourage learning, raise awareness, and improve the clarity and effectiveness of processes and guidance

8 February, 2024

State Pension Age (Compensation) Bill receives its first reading in House of Commons

Bill requires Secretary of State to publish proposals for a compensation scheme for women born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1960 who have been affected by increases in the state pension age

6 February, 2024

Extending period within which statutory paternity pay can be claimed to 52 weeks after the birth of the child

New statutory instrument also allows fathers or partners to split their leave into two blocks of one week

6 February, 2024

More than 120 organisations and council leaders write to Chancellor calling for urgent extension of Household Support Fund

Warning of 'devastating consequences' if it is not renewed beyond March, letter highlights that more than 60 per cent of local welfare funding was financed by the Fund in 2022/2023 and that need is growing

6 February, 2024

Government has listened to the asks of disabled people and is ‘truly determined’ to deliver on them, says DWP Minister

Mims Davies says that new Disability Action Plan will make the UK the most accessible place in the world for disabled people to 'live, work and thrive'

6 February, 2024

Requiring jobseekers in Northern Ireland to widen their job search outside of their preferred sector after four weeks of jobseeking rather than thirteen

New statutory instrument

5 February, 2024

Tribunal erred in law in finding claimant’s disclosure of intention to claim occupational pension in the near future discharged the obligation to disclose as communicated in ESA40 booklet

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v NS
[2024] UKUT 5 (AAC)
UA-2021-000249/250-ESA

5 February, 2024

Uprating of council tax reduction schemes in Scotland 2024/2025

New statutory instrument also makes provision for disregard of payments from the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme

5 February, 2024

Gordon Lyons elected as Communities Minister for Northern Ireland following restoration of power sharing government in the region

MLAs sitting for the first time in two years also reappoint Naomi Long as Justice Minister and elect Robin Swann as Minister for Health with responsibility for social care

2 February, 2024

Failure to provide claimant with transitional protection for loss of EDP following natural migration to universal credit was unlawful and DWP must redecide entitlement on a lawful basis

FL v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (UC)
[2024] UKUT 6 (AAC)
UA-2021-001442-UOTH

2 February, 2024

Tribunal’s failure to mention evidence taken during hearing in its statement of reasons for decision, and later reliance on that evidence when refusing permission to appeal, amounted to error of law

GS v Secretary of State for Work & Pensions
[2024] UKUT 4 (AAC)
UA-2022-001714-ULCW

1 February, 2024

More than 60 per cent of households in receipt of universal credit housing element have rents that exceed their local housing allowance

New figures also show that median shortfall between households' rent liability and their LHA rate ranges between around £120 and £180 per month across Great Britain

1 February, 2024

Former DWP Minister and Secretary of State responsible for setting up Household Support Fund call for its continuation

However, in response Minister for Employment says that the Budget is scheduled for next month and that it is not for her to pre-empt what may be included

1 February, 2024

DWP invites feedback on proposal to remove claimant error underpayments from its fraud and error statistics

Where a claimant fails to give 'full and correct evidence', DWP says there is no legal entitlement to the amount not paid and therefore no underpayment in law

31 January, 2024

Tribunals reached different conclusion on substantially the same facts in more than 60 per cent of PIP decisions overturned on appeal in 2022

Information supplied by DWP Minister also shows that almost a third of decisions were overturned due to oral evidence at tribunal

31 January, 2024

DWP expects that its ongoing evaluation of the household support fund will be completed ‘in the summer’

Minister also reiterates government's position that any extension of the fund beyond March 2024 is a matter that remains 'under review'

31 January, 2024

Government should scrap ‘catastrophic’ two-child limit and benefit cap to prevent ever-increasing numbers of larger families falling into poverty

Resolution Foundation warns that, while around a third of children in larger families were in poverty in 2013/2014, proportion is projected to rise to more than a half by 2028/2029

31 January, 2024

Local Government Association issues urgent call for household support fund to be extended for at least a year

Funding needed to allow councils to keep residents healthy, support them to engage in work and education, prevent escalating crises and reduce pressure on wider public services