Welfare rights news

29 March, 2010

Revenue sets out how it intends to ensure that people receive the credits and payments they are entiled to

However, year ahead is going to be tough says HMRC Chief Executive

29 March, 2010

Government announces changes to work capability assessment as part of new approach to tackling long term worklessness

Plus 10,000 claimants of 'old style' incapacity benefits to be reassessed every week from Spring 2011

29 March, 2010

Workmen’s Compensation Scheme and benefit uprating

New statutory instrument

26 March, 2010

Government’s commitment to eradicate child poverty enshrined in law

Child Poverty Act receives Royal Assent

26 March, 2010

Government rejects Select Committee’s call for Ombudsman reform

Abolition of MP filter needs needs to be 'carefully considered' in context of Ombudsman's relationship with, and responsibilities to, Parliament

26 March, 2010

Extending eligibility for free school meals to children of working tax credit claimants

Department for Children, Schools and Families launches consultation on draft regulations

26 March, 2010

Child element of child tax credit to be increased for children aged one and two

Budget announcement expected to benefit 885,000 families

26 March, 2010

Benefit and tax credit uprating 2010/2011

New regulations

25 March, 2010

Migration of incapacity benefits claimants to employment and support allowance

New transitional protection regulations

25 March, 2010

Work-focused interviews and the equalisation of state pension age

New DWP guidance

25 March, 2010

Tax credits and the abolition of child premia in income support and JSA

New statutory instrument

25 March, 2010

Repaying tax credit overpayments by voluntary deductions from a DWP income-related benefit

New statutory instrument

25 March, 2010

New maintenance payment disregard is ‘one more step in fight against child poverty’

Secretary of State welcomes new rules from April 2010

25 March, 2010

Industrial injuries benefit and child additions

New regulations in Northern Ireland

25 March, 2010

HMRC ‘not very good’ at answering telephone calls

Almost 60m calls went unanswered in 2008/2009, says Public Accounts Committee

25 March, 2010

Help with childcare costs through working tax credit, where the claimant’s childcare costs decrease

New statutory instrument

25 March, 2010

Government announces plan to merge the Tribunals Service and the Court Service

Budget announcement welcomed by the Lord Chancellor

25 March, 2010

Government announces below inflation rise in council tax in England

Communities and Local Government Secretary welcomes lowest ever increase

25 March, 2010

DWP to deliver £550m of efficiency savings by 2012/2103

More than a third of savings to be made by 'delivering benefits more efficiently'