Welfare rights news

18 October, 2010

Introduction of three year benefit sanction for ‘third strike’ fraud offences

Civil penalties of £50 for 'minor offenders' also included in new DWP and HMRC fraud and error strategy

18 October, 2010

Tribunal composition where tribunal member not available on day of hearing

New DWP guidance

18 October, 2010

HB subsidy to local authorities where claimant living in temporary accommodation

New statutory insturment

18 October, 2010

Higher rate of DLA mobility component for severely visually impaired people

New DWP guidance

15 October, 2010

Government’s housing benefit reforms are unfair, inflexible and must be changed

Policies are draconian and adversely affect the poor and the disadvantaged, says Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats

15 October, 2010

DWP publishes new research on take-up of carer’s allowance

However study concludes that there are 'strong signs' of data inaccuracies affecting measurement

15 October, 2010

Inquiry into the contracting arrangements for the Work Programme

Work and Pensions Select Committee invites evidence by 25 November 2010

15 October, 2010

DWP launches consultation on changes to national insurance credits

New rules would introduce extra help for family members providing childcare, but bring 'starting credits' to an end

14 October, 2010

DLA Advisory Board and Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council to be abolished

Government confirms that more than 190 public bodies to disappear, with further 289 to be reformed

14 October, 2010

ESA appeals account for more than half of cases waiting to be referred to the Tribunals Service

Work and Pensions Minister confirms that almost 35,000 incapacity-related cases outstanding

14 October, 2010

Prime Minister ready to ‘block’ Work and Pensions Secretary’s plan to reduce cold weather payments

Regulations issued earlier this week fail to maintain increase introduced in 2008

14 October, 2010

Evaluation of Support for Newly Unemployed and the Six Month Offer

New DWP research reports

13 October, 2010

Withdrawal of support will have serious consequences for communities already suffering from the recession

Tackling poverty among out-of-work working-age adults remains an intractable issue, says Joseph Rowntree Foundation

13 October, 2010

Miscellaneous amendments to housing benefit and council tax benefit

New DWP guidance

12 October, 2010

Most benefits to be uprated by 3.1 per cent next year

Switch from the Retail Prices Index to the Consumer Prices Index is 'insidious', says TUC

12 October, 2010

Means by which payments of child benefit and guardian's allowance are made

New statutory instrument

12 October, 2010

Miscellaneous amendments to housing benefit and council tax benefit

New statutory instrument

12 October, 2010

Changes to the first contribution condition for JSA and ESA purposes

New statutory instrument

12 October, 2010

Changes to the social fund cold weather payments scheme

New statutory instrument