The legality of the new minimum income requirement – EIN Blog

Posted February 1st, 2024 in families, human rights, news, remuneration, social security by sally

‘The recently announced plan to increase the minimum income requirement (MIR) to £38,700 led to widespread criticism, with the government appearing to exclude all but the affluent from establishing family life in the UK. This has led to a partial policy shift, with it now announced that the threshold to sponsor a spouse will not rise to this amount until 2025, with an interim rise to £29,000 taking place in the Spring. Nonetheless, even this lower amount will be unaffordable to many families, raising questions about the compatibility of the rise with Convention rights. In R (MM) Lebanon v SSHD [2017] UKSC 10 the Supreme Court found that the initial MIR, set at £18,600, was lawful. In this post, I will highlight two key problems with the judgment, along with the failure of the MIR to restrict the social security entitlement of many affected families: the MIR’s primary justification.’

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EIN Blog, 31st January 2024

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Home Office publishes new policy instruction on lifting NRPF conditions for those on student leave following concession in test case – Garden Court Chambers

‘Following judicial review proceedings brought by a destitute woman and her one-year-old daughter who were denied access to public funds, the Home Office has published a new policy instruction setting out the circumstances in which no recourse to public funds (‘NRPF’) conditions will be lifted for those on student leave.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 10th October 2023

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

No-fault evictions and bans on social services tenants to be outlawed in England – The Guardian

Posted June 16th, 2022 in health & safety, housing, landlord & tenant, news, social security by sally

‘Measures to tackle unscrupulous private landlords who evict tenants without giving a reason or who let unsafe homes, will be introduced under government proposals aimed at giving a better deal for millions of renters in England.’

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The Guardian, 15th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Act – legislation.gov.uk

Posted November 24th, 2020 in benefits, legislation, social security by tracey

Social Security (Up-rating of Benefits) Act 2020

Supreme Court ruling in Patel on Zambrano Carers – Richmond Chambers

Posted January 9th, 2020 in carers, citizenship, EC law, news, social security, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court delivered its long anticipated judgment on Zambrano carers in Patel v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] UKSC 59 on 16 December 2019.’

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Richmond Chambers, 1st January

Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk

Universal credit adverts from government ‘deliberately misleading’, say charities – The Independent

‘A coalition of more than 80 benefit charities has submitted a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority over government ads for Universal Credit which they claim are “deliberately misleading”.’

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The Independent, 19th June 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Bereaved mother entitled to widow allowance – Supreme Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 5th, 2018 in appeals, cohabitation, human rights, news, social security, Supreme Court, widows by sally

‘An unmarried mother has won a landmark Supreme Court case which could allow cohabitees to claim Widowed Parent’s Allowance, a benefit previously only applicable to married parents.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 31st August 2018

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Lettings Agents are Discriminating Against Housing Benefit Tenants, says Shelter – Rights Info

Posted August 23rd, 2018 in benefits, equality, housing, landlord & tenant, news, reports, social security by sally

‘An investigation by Shelter has found many letting agents are refusing to rent to tenants who receive housing benefits.’

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Rights Info, 22nd August 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

Group jailed for 47 years after £450,000 maternity payment scam – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted July 19th, 2018 in benefits, conspiracy, fraud, press releases, sentencing, social security by tracey

‘Twelve people who plotted to claim more than £450,000 in maternity payments for babies which did not exist have been jailed for 47 years today (18 July). The defendants, who included members of the same family and their partners and friends, made at least 158 fraudulent applications for maternity allowance over the course of 52 months.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 18th July 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

The Landmark Legal Challenge to Universal Credit System Explained – Rightsinfo

Posted February 12th, 2018 in benefits, disabled persons, judicial review, news, social security by tracey

‘A controversial new social security benefit, currently being rolled out across the UK, is facing a major legal challenge. But what’s the challenge all about and what impact might it have?’

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Rightsinfo, 8th February 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

Universal credit system faces landmark legal challenge – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2018 in benefits, disabled persons, health, news, social security by sally

‘A terminally ill man has won the right to launch a landmark legal challenge to the government over its introduction of universal credit after the controversial new benefits system left him significantly worse off.’

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The Guardian, 4th February 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Quadriplegic’ fraudster who claimed over £500,000 in benefits caught pushing wheelchair-bound wife around – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 1st, 2018 in benefits, carers, disabled persons, fraud, news, social security by tracey

‘A benefits cheat who claimed he had no use of his arms and legs conned the authorities for 15 years – until he was spotted walking around town pushing his wheelchair-bound wife.’

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Daily Telegraph, 31st January 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Someone has to make a stand’: widow’s battle for cohabiting couples – The Guardian

‘Siobhan McLaughlin’s case goes before supreme court as pressure grows to end legal inequality.’

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The Guardian, 27th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK sick pay legislation is in breach of EU law – The Independent

Posted January 25th, 2018 in EC law, news, remuneration, self-employment, sick leave, social security by tracey

‘Statutory sick pay and social protections for jobless and self-employed people in the UK are in breach of legal obligations under European law, the Council of Europe has found.’

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The Independent, 24th January 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Bedworth bedroom conundrum – Nearly Legal

Posted January 4th, 2018 in benefits, housing, local government, news, regulations, social security by sally

‘A very interesting (and perhaps surprising) Upper Tribunal 3 judge decision on the issue of ‘what is a bedroom’ for the purposes of Housing Benefit Reg 13 – the bedroom tax.’

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Nearly Legal, 31st December 2017

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Businessman jailed for tax evasion and benefit fraud – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted December 5th, 2017 in benefits, fraud, press releases, sentencing, social security, tax evasion by tracey

‘A bar and garage owner who fraudulently avoided more than £340,000 in tax and national insurance by failing to register the premises has been jailed for four years.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 4th December 2017

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Keir Starmer: make funding for women’s refuges mandatory – The Guardian

Posted November 28th, 2017 in benefits, domestic violence, housing, news, social security, social services, victims, women by sally

‘Keir Starmer, the shadow cabinet member and former chief prosecutor, has called for mandatory funding for refuges amid criticism over a shake-up of funding for women’s services.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

R (HC) v SSWP – Arden Chambers

Posted November 23rd, 2017 in appeals, carers, news, social security, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court has held that legislation designed to limit the rights of Zambrano carers to claim certain types of social assistance, including assistance under Pt 7, Housing Act 1996, was lawful.’

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Arden Chambers, 15th November 2017

Source: www.ardenchambers.com

The Universal Credit Row and Our Basic Human Rights – RightsInfo

Posted October 10th, 2017 in benefits, human rights, news, sanctions, social security, women by sally

‘Universal Credit is a new social security benefit that’s currently being rolled out across the UK.

Several politicians and charities – including some within Theresa’s May Government – have asked for the new scheme to be paused or stopped. But how does this relate to our human rights?’

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RightsInfo, 9th October 2017

Source: rightsinfo.org

Council agrees to review 500+ benefit applications after tribunal appeal delays – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 28th, 2017 in appeals, benefits, delay, news, social security, tribunals by sally

‘A city council has agreed to review more than 500 benefit applications after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found delays in its appeals process.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 27th September 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk