Welfare rights news and case law

23 March, 2021

Total value of payments to PIP claimants in Northern Ireland was more than 50 per cent higher than expected in 2019/2020

However, Audit Office also finds underspends in other areas that the Department for Communities largely attributes to fewer than expected claimant appeals

22 March, 2021 Open access

Non-partisan Commission on Social Security Reform launched by think tank to support post-Covid-19 economic recovery and strengthen UK’s safety net

Bright Blue think tank warns that ‘deep and disproportionate' cuts to working-age benefits in response to the economic crisis of the late 2000s 'cannot happen again' as we come out of pandemic

22 March, 2021

Scottish Government announces more than £3 million funding for advice services in GP surgeries

Launching in September 2021, new Welfare Advice and Health Partnerships will work across 150 GP Practices

22 March, 2021

Scottish Government announces launch date for Child Disability Payment in pilot areas

Families of children with a disability living in Dundee, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles will be able to apply for the new payment from 26 July 2021

22 March, 2021

Welsh Government announces new £500 payment for bereaved parents

Payment will be offered by Registrar when death is registered and therefore no claim will be necessary, confirms Minister

19 March, 2021 Open access

Senior President of Tribunals issues amended Pilot Practice Directions in response to the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic

Directions relating to contingency arrangements and panel composition in the First-tier and Upper Tribunal extended to 18 September 2021

19 March, 2021

Consideration of ‘substantial risk’ arising from claimant being found fit for work includes travel to and from jobcentre and job interviews, as well as to and from work

CUC/747/2020
[2021] UKUT 47 (AAC)

19 March, 2021 Open access

PCS says that it will oppose DWP’s decision to resume normal jobcentre opening hours from 12 April 2021 ‘by any means necessary’

Responding to DWP's announcement today, Union highlights potential risks to members in increasing claimant activity within jobcentres while Covid-19 pandemic is 'far from over'

19 March, 2021 Open access

Extension of universal credit uplift and suspension of minimum income floor in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

18 March, 2021

Government publishes plans to reform the judicial review process despite its own review panel urging it to think long and hard before seeking to curtail the judiciary’s powers

Essential reforms will defend the judiciary from being drawn into political questions and preserve the integrity of judicial review for its intended purpose, says Lord Chancellor

18 March, 2021

High Court rules that DWP’s universal credit deductions policy’s use of a rigid formula in respect of court fines, rather than the exercise of discretion as the legislation requires, is unlawful

[2021] EWHC 608 (Admin)

18 March, 2021

DWP issues new guidance on the effect of the Court of Appeal’s decision in the Fratila case

HB Circular provides advice to decision-makers pending the Secretary of State's appeal against the judgment being heard by the Supreme Court

18 March, 2021

Local authorities to receive almost £750,000 to make changes to benefit forms, leaflets and websites as a result of changes to personal allowances for people who reach state pension age on or after 1 April 2021

'New Burdens' funding designed to support the costs of implementing changes being made by the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

17 March, 2021

Northern Ireland’s Minister for Communities confirms there will be no cut to advice sector funding in 2021/2022

Commitment set out by Minister in response to MLA's concerns that review of welfare mitigation measures has not yet been completed

17 March, 2021 Open access

Scottish Social Security Committee expresses ‘considerable concern’ about significant number of people unable to access social security support during Covid pandemic

Report on how social security can aid Scotland’s recovery from Covid-19 calls on UK and Scottish Governments to explore feasibility of a Citizens Basic Income as one way to widen support

17 March, 2021

Scottish Parliament votes in favour of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill becoming law

Landmark Bill is 'the most significant piece of legislation since devolution, delivering a revolution in children’s rights', says Deputy First Minister

17 March, 2021

Scottish Government report outlines link between universal credit and homelessness

Focusing on sanctions and five-week wait for payment, report highlights increase in homelessness in Scotland since universal credit introduced in 2015

17 March, 2021

Extension of period for which assignment to the Social Security Chamber of a president who is also the president of another chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland is permitted

New statutory instrument extends period to 31 March 2024

16 March, 2021 Open access

New regulations issued to provide for the £20 a week universal credit ‘uplift’ to continue to be paid for a further 6 months

New statutory instrument also provides for extension of measures relating to the minimum income floor that had been due to expire on 30 April 2021

Welfare rights

However, Audit Office also finds underspends in other areas that the Department for Communities largely attributes to fewer than expected claimant appeals

CUC/747/2020 [2021] UKUT 47 (AAC)

CUC/747/2020
[2021] UKUT 47 (AAC)