Welfare rights news and case law

4 April, 2019

Government research highlights financial difficulties experienced by tax credits claimants on their migration to universal credit

More than 60 per cent that had difficulties said that they started in the same month or after they began claiming universal credit

4 April, 2019

Recording of supported accommodation charges paid through housing benefit

DWP issues new guidance to local authorities

4 April, 2019

New Burdens payments to local authorities for costs of implementing welfare reform changes in 2019/2020

New DWP guidance sets out allocations of funding to each local authority.

4 April, 2019

Tribunal is required to provide very clear reasons if it dismisses appeal after claimant rejects a preliminary award 'offer'

CPIP/2086/2018
[2019] UKUT 42 (AAC)

3 April, 2019

DWP confirms circumstances in which refugees can be fast tracked through universal credit habitual residence test process

Written answer to parliament also sets out payment methods for those who don't have a bank account

3 April, 2019

Senior President of Tribunals presents implementation plan for tribunals modernisation programme

Plans for Social Security Chamber include a digital pilot of continuous online resolution with selected PIP appellants from mid-April 2019

3 April, 2019

Government publishes response to Windrush call for evidence and compensation consultation

Proposals include commitment to address cases where benefits have been denied or removed as a result of being unable to demonstrate lawful immigration status

3 April, 2019

Tribunal wrong to identify grounds for supersession before assessing evidence and finding facts on entitlement

CPIP/1917/2019
[2019] UKUT 82 (AAC)

3 April, 2019

40th anniversary of child benefit 'feels more like a wake than a celebration', says Resolution Foundation

New analysis highlights risk that benefit will be abolished and subsumed into universal credit as value falls and number of eligible families decreases

2 April, 2019

Work and Pensions Committee launches follow-up inquiry on in-work progression under universal credit

'Ministers need to find out if it works', says Committee Chair

2 April, 2019

Claimants who lose out after naturally migrating to universal credit are only ‘notional losers’

There is 'nothing to protect against' when people have had a change of circumstance, Universal Credit Director General tells Work and Pensions Committee

1 April, 2019

DWP launches new £39m universal credit ‘Help to Claim’ service

'High quality, independent advice' to be delivered by Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland

1 April, 2019

PIP mandatory reconsideration clearance times increase by 50 per cent in three months

DWP took an average 54 days to reach decisions in January 2019 compared to 36 days in October 2018

1 April, 2019

Protection of citizens’ rights in relation to EU social security coordination in event of ‘no deal’

New statutory instruments aim to ‘ensure that citizens’ rights are protected as far as possible in a no-deal scenario’

1 April, 2019

Revocation and re-enactment of bereavement support payment regulations in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

29 March, 2019

Questions on food security to be introduced in Family Resources Survey from April 2019

Minister confirms that new questions will enable DWP 'to monitor the prevalence and severity of household food insecurity at a national level and for specific groups from Spring 2021'

29 March, 2019

Claimant in receipt of mobility component of DLA was not a 'pensioner' for purposes of deciding on competent State

CDLA/2722/2016
[2019] UKUT 55 (AAC)

29 March, 2019

Right to reside as an employed or self-employed claimant has to be decided by reference to EU law when minimum earnings threshold is not met

CH/2085/2018
[2019] UKUT 52 (AAC)

29 March, 2019

Protecting reciprocal rights to tax credits enjoyed by British and Irish citizens following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU

New statutory instrument