Welfare rights news

5 November, 2007

Early entry to the New Deal to be extended

Measure designed to tackle the number of young people not in education, employment or training

2 November, 2007

Government's welfare reform proposals lack analysis of how support and security for disabled claimants will be achieved

Disability Alliance responds to 'In work, Better off' Green Paper

1 November, 2007

Social fund cold weather payments

New DWP guidance

30 October, 2007

Government yet to prove case for increasing ‘work conditionality’ for lone parent claimants

DWP should set out the evidence base for its proposals, says Work and Pensions Committee

30 October, 2007

DWP and local authority use and verification of benefit claim information

New DWP guidance

29 October, 2007

Payment of AA/DLA to care home residents

New DWP guidance

29 October, 2007

Government sets up new cross-departmental unit to tackle child poverty

However CPAG expresses concern that the Treasury not involved

25 October, 2007

Government to simplify the administration of statutory sick pay

New measures to be introduced in Autumn 2008

25 October, 2007

Encouraging local authority HB departments to identify unreported changes in circumstances

New DWP research on performance measure PM10

25 October, 2007

Child support improvements welcomed by MPs

Hundreds of thousands of children will benefit, says Public Accounts Committee

24 October, 2007

Evaluation of the Job Outcome Target performance measurement system

New DWP research

23 October, 2007

Resolving DLA/AA appeals without resorting to a full hearing

Update on Tribunals Service pilot of alternative dispute resolution, from Disability Alliance

22 October, 2007

Prescription charges in Scotland to be abolished within four years

Move will tackle inequalities as more people live with long-term chronic conditions, says Health Secretary

22 October, 2007

Jobcentre Plus service to crisis loan applicants is ‘unacceptably poor’

Urgent action needed, says Social Fund Commissioner

22 October, 2007

Help with health service costs in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

22 October, 2007

Government welfare to work proposals largely aspirational and short on detail

Social Security Advisory Committee responds to 'In work, Better off' Green Paper

19 October, 2007

Tax credit overpayment recovery test to be replaced

Responsibilities to be more fairly allocated between claimants and the Revenue, says Minister

19 October, 2007

Benefit take-up levels amongst 198 new local authority performance indicators

Measures designed to give councils greater flexibility to set their own priorities

19 October, 2007

‘Significant progress’ made in tackling poverty and social exclusion

But more needs to be done in helping people move from welfare to work, says Secretary of State