Welfare rights news and case law

9 May, 2018

Introduction of human rights guidance in Northern Ireland in relation to rape victims claiming social security or tax credits

New statutory rule

9 May, 2018

Miscellaneous amendments to the rate relief scheme in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule amends the scheme in response to recent universal credit policy changes in Northern Ireland

9 May, 2018

Pain when managing a compression bandage and the need to consider the reliability criteria under regulation 4

CPIP/383/2018
[2018] UKUT 138 (AAC)

8 May, 2018

Legal aid funding for advice on welfare benefits and tax credits in 2016/2017 was just one per cent of what it was in 2010/2011

Written answer in Parliament confirms that legal aid funding is now restricted to appeals to the Upper Tribunal and higher courts

8 May, 2018

70 per cent of DWP staff want the roll-out of universal credit to be stopped, according to the PCS

Union's General Secretary says the 'time for a radical overhaul of how we treat those who need help has come'

8 May, 2018

Satisfying the ‘permanent condition’ for reduced earnings allowance when claimant continues in their regular occupation

DWP issues new guidance following recent Upper Tribunal decision

4 May, 2018

Urgent Bulletin issued to local authorities on dealing with housing benefit claims from ‘Windrush generation’

DWP advises that claimants should be directed to the Home Office 'dedicated taskforce' and decisions on their claims be delayed for at least two weeks

4 May, 2018

Tribunals should question a healthcare professional’s failure to conduct a mental function assessment in reliance on what a claimant says

CPIP/13/2018
[2018] UKUT 131 (AAC)

3 May, 2018

72 per cent of households that have had their housing benefit capped are single-parent families

New DWP statistics also show that a third of single-parent capped households include a child under 2 years old

3 May, 2018

Supersession of ESA award and entitlement to arrears after late notification of PIP award

CE/3532/2017
2018] UKUT 135 (AAC)

2 May, 2018

Where points are awarded for assistance with a therapeutic source, they cannot also be awarded for assistance with therapy

CSPIP/386/2015
[2016] UKUT 574 (AAC)

2 May, 2018

Lip-reading is not to be considered an acceptable way to interpret verbal communication

CPIP/3326/2017
[2018] UKUT 112 (AAC)

2 May, 2018

Payments to local authorities for the Verify Earnings and Pension Alerts service

New DWP guidance

30 April, 2018

Public Accounts Committee launches inquiry into the underpayment of claimants transferring from incapacity benefit to ESA

Committee says it will ask the DWP what it is doing to support affected claimants and make sure those who are entitled to benefit receive all they are owed

30 April, 2018

Claimant with indefinite leave to remain is not entitled to attendance allowance if the UK is not the competent state for paying sickness benefits

CA/2023/2017
[2018] UKUT 121 (AAC)

30 April, 2018

Clear findings must be made as to the nature of assistance or supervision that would enable a claimant to carry out a task safely

CPIP/3130/2017
[2018] UKUT 101 (AAC)

30 April, 2018

Effects of jobseeker’s conditionality on a claimant are relevant when deciding substantial risk under ESA regulation 29(2)(b)

CE/2904/2017
[2018] UKUT 124 (AAC)

27 April, 2018

Work and Pensions Secretary announces extension of kinship carer support under the government's two child policy

Ms McVey also says that extended support will apply to adoptive parents of children who would otherwise be in local authority care

27 April, 2018

Automatic split payment of universal credit for victims of abuse has become ‘a bit of a sideshow’, says Work and Pensions Minister

However, Kit Malthouse says that if Scotland introduces automatic split payments then the government is ‘not closed to the idea’