Welfare rights news and case law

11 October, 2019

Evaluation of DWP universal credit in-work progression trial finds small positive earnings impact from more intensive work coach support

Research also finds that, although earnings impacts for claimants exceeded costs of delivering the pilot, value for money would be less if policy implemented today due to changes in requirements for non-trial participants

11 October, 2019

Parliamentary Ombudsman says it will ‘take some time’ to decide whether to investigate complaints about women’s state pension age changes following High Court judgment

Updated approach to pension age complaints handling also says no new complaints will be accepted as ‘no new issues are being complained about’

11 October, 2019

Miscellaneous amendments to the council tax reduction scheme in Scotland

New statutory instrument

11 October, 2019

Supporting ‘stay at home’ ethnic minority women towards employment

New DWP report on labour market participation for members of ethnic minority communities identifies best practices of organisations that Jobcentre Plus refers people to

10 October, 2019

Labour Leader restates commitment to scrap universal credit

Alternative Queen’s Speech also confirms Labour will end the two child limit, benefit cap, five week wait, bedroom tax and sanctions regime

9 October, 2019

Child benefit can be exported under Article 7 of Regulation 883/2004 / priority rules for overlapping family benefits do not apply when claimant is receiving benefit in only one State

CF/5039/2014
[2019] UKUT 289 (AAC)

9 October, 2019

Amendments to social security legislation to allow arrears of maternity allowance and armed forces independence payment to be ignored in calculation of capital

New statutory instrument and statutory rule

9 October, 2019

Amendments to social security legislation to give effect to agreement between the UK and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on citizens’ rights following UK’s exit from the EU

New statutory instrument

9 October, 2019

Amendments to social security legislation to give effect to agreement between the UK and Switzerland on citizens’ rights following UK’s exit from the EU

New statutory instruments

9 October, 2019

Guidance to tribunals on application of activity 9 - ‘Engaging with other people face to face’

CSPIP/208/2019
[2019] UKUT 292 (AAC)

9 October, 2019

Remittance of case where it was the tribunal and not the decision maker who made the first decision

CPIP/1172/2018
[2019] UKUT 279 (AAC)

9 October, 2019

Whether consuming food in liquid form to avoid swallowing difficulties fits with defintion of ‘taking nutrition’ / relevance of pain and discomfort and reliability criterion 'to an acceptable statndard'

CPIP/381/2019
[2019] UKUT 270 (AAC)

8 October, 2019

DWP proactively seeking further evidence at mandatory reconsideration stage in all PIP and WCA cases

Minister for Disabled People tells parliament that improvement to process follows successful pilot carried out over the summer

8 October, 2019

Charities call for first payment of universal credit to be made before claimants are required to agree claimant commitment

Responding to call for evidence by the SSAC, organisations also recommend a formal right of appeal against the commitment

8 October, 2019

DWP allocates additional funding for universal credit home visiting service

Minister for Welfare Delivery tells parliament that funds for service will rise to just under £2 million in 2019/2020 and to more than £5.5 million by 2023/2024

8 October, 2019

Holistic assessment should be made of claimant’s ability to plan and follow a journey on foot, driving and using public transport

CPIP/1094/2019
[2019] UKUT 274 (AAC)

8 October, 2019

Tribunal failed to give adequate reasons for finding that daily attention of more than one and a half hours did not amount to attention for a ‘significant portion of the day’

CDLA/799/2019
[2019] UKUT 272 (AAC)

7 October, 2019

Managed migration regulations drawn to ‘special attention’ of both Houses for DWP’s ‘unjustifiable’ delay in laying them

Committee of MPs and Peers also highlight that former Work and Pensions Secretary did not receive advice from it on proceeding to lay regulations without debate

7 October, 2019

Evidence required for free school meal applications from universal credit claimants

DWP issues new guidance to local authorities in respect of claimants in England and Wales