Welfare rights news

18 January, 2010

Abolition of ‘Urgent Cases Payments’ and of the ‘disabled worker’ rule in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

15 January, 2010

Scottish Minister calls for consultation on plans to integrate disability benefits into new social care system

UK government should resist 'riding roughshod' over Scottish opinion whilst 'meddling with the benefits system'

15 January, 2010

Most mobile phone calls to the DWP’s 0800 numbers to be free from next week

Department has been working hard to make sure people don't lose out, says Secretary of State

15 January, 2010

UK policy on exporting disability and carer’s benefits is ‘incompatible’ with EU law

EU Commission starts infringement proceedings against UK government

15 January, 2010

Government urged to radically rethink its fuel poverty strategy

Winter fuel and cold weather payments are insufficient to deal with the problem, says IPPR

15 January, 2010

Evaluation of the WORKSTEP supported employment programme

New DWP research report

15 January, 2010

Benefit sanctions following one or more conviction, penalty or caution for benefit fraud

New statutory instrument

14 January, 2010

Treasury Select Committee warns of 'perverse consequence' of measuring relative child poverty in a period of recession

More clarity needed as to the extent to which reductions in poverty are a result of lower average incomes

13 January, 2010

Discretionary housing payments expenditure limits and government contribution for 2010/2011

New DWP guidance

12 January, 2010

Urgent action needed to resolve child benefit delays

Situation having a negative impact on children's lives, says Citizens Advice

12 January, 2010

Prescription charges reduced in Scotland

New statutory instrument

12 January, 2010

NI credits for those ‘engaged in caring’, foster carers and certain child benefit recipients

New statutory instrument

11 January, 2010

Incapacity benefit claimants to be migrated to employment and support allowance from October 2010

Social Security Advisory Committee launches consultation on draft regulations

8 January, 2010

Identifying housing benefit fraud through the use of data held by Credit Reference Agencies

Pilot exercise to be rolled out nationally in Spring 2010, DWP confirms

7 January, 2010

Tribunals Service proposes ending practice of reimbursing travel costs on day of the hearing

Consultation launched on whether change will deter appellants from exercising their rights

6 January, 2010

Benefit uprating 2010/2011

DWP issues new HB guidance

5 January, 2010

War pensions disregards for housing benefit and council tax benefit

New DWP guidance

5 January, 2010

Student grant and loan rates for housing benefit and council tax benefit purposes

New DWP guidance

5 January, 2010

Pathways to Work programme ‘less effective’ than first thought

DWP launches review to urgently explore options for reform