Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd MP has announced that the government will introduce two new criminal offences to penalise the mismanagement of pension schemes.
Doughty Street Chambers, 11th February 2019
Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk
‘It may seem somewhat Dickensian that an unmarried parent would be ineligible for social benefits as a widow/er upon the death of their partner and co-parent, but that was the situation created by the legislation challenged in Re Siobhan McLaughlin for Judicial Review (Northern Ireland) [2018] UKSC 48 (Lady Hale, Lord Mance, Lord Kerr, Lord Hodge and Lady Black). The issue under scrutiny was entitlement to widowed parent’s entitlement (WPA). WPA is a contributory social security benefit payable to parents of dependent children who are widowed; but, at the time of the claim, a widowed parent was only eligible for WPA if at the time of the death, s/he was married to, or the civil partner of, the deceased [para 1 of the judgment]. The appellant, who had four dependent children with her deceased partner, but had never married him, argued that this requirement discriminated against the survivor and/or the children on the basis of their marital or birth status, contrary to ECHR, art 14. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal majority of 4 to 1 (Lord Hodge dissenting) and made a declaration that s 39A is incompatible with ECHR, art 14 read with art 8, insofar as it precludes any entitlement to WPA by a surviving unmarried partner of the deceased.’
‘A single mother of four who was was forced into homelessness due to a shortfall in housing benefit is to challenge the government in Britain’s highest court.’
The Independent, 31st January 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The UK benefits system’s Disability Living Allowance (DLA) has been designed to support people living with disabilities – but handouts may be unfairly benefiting claimants with physical injuries over those with mental illnesses.’
Rights Info, 22nd January 2019
Source: rightsinfo.org
‘A repeatedly convicted landlord, ruled unfit to rent out property in a north London borough in 2015, has since received more than £500,000 in housing benefit payments from the same council that banned him. The discovery that a local authority is directly paying public money to a landlord its own officers describe as “rogue” is the latest example of the ineffective regulations designed to police the private rented sector’s worst offenders.’
The Guardian, 20th January 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Ministry of Justice says its delayed review of the impact of its controversial legal aid reforms is nearly done after publishing a table showing an alarming drop in the number of people who have been granted public funding in welfare benefits cases over the last decade.’
Law Society's Gazette, 17th January 2019
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The Home Office has announced a repayment scheme for modern slavery victims after its decision to slash their financial support was ruled unlawful by the High Court.’
The Independent, 17th January 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘R (Johnson, Woods, Barrett and Stewart) v SSWP CO/1552/2018 (11 January 2019) – this case was brought by four social security claimants contesting the proper method of calculating the amount of universal credit payable to each claimant under the Universal Credit Regulations 2013. Singh LJ and Lewis J concluded that treating claimants as having “earned” twice as much as they do if they happen to be paid twice within one monthly assessment period is “odd in the extreme” [para 54] and “…. could be said to lead to nonsensical situations” [para 55].’
UK Human Rights Blog, 15th January 2019
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘A man has been jailed after falsely claiming he was sleeping rough in the Grenfell Tower so he could access £88,0000 worth of benefits meant for genuine victims of the fire.’
Crown Prosecution Service, 30th November 2018
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
‘Four women have launched a high court legal challenge to universal credit, arguing that an arbitrary design flaw in the payment system for the new benefit is “irrational and discriminatory” and leaves some families hundreds of pounds a year worse off.’
The Guardian, 27th November 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A government decision to slash financial support for modern slavery victims has been ruled unlawful by the High Court.’
The Independent, 22nd November 2018
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘An experienced solicitor has been struck off after being convicted of fraudulently claiming housing benefit when she had savings that made her ineligible.’
Legal Futures, 7th November 2018
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The Universal Credit Regulations 2013 contain certain exclusions from the housing element of Universal Credit.’
Nearly Legal, 1st November 2018
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
‘In his final budget before Brexit, Chancellor Philip Hammond has declared that austerity is coming to an end and reiterated Theresa May’s £8.4 billion spending pledge to the NHS.’
Rights Info, 29th October 2018
Source: rightsinfo.org
‘Progress on making Britain a more equal country has been overshadowed over the last three years by “alarming backward steps”, the government’s own equalities watchdog has warned.’
The Guardian, 25th October 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘More than a thousand carers face being prosecuted for fraud as the government attempts to claw back overpayments to people who have been looking after sick and elderly relatives from the poorest communities, the Guardian has been told.’
The Guardian, 7th October 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The UK’s Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Siobhan McLaughlin, an unmarried mother of four from County Antrim, gaining access to Widowed Parent’s Allowance following her partner’s death in 2014.’
Family Law, 31st August 2018
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘Prisoners should stop being released on Fridays because it can prove hard for them to access benefits, medication and assistance, campaigners have said.’
BBC News, 24th August 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘An investigation by Shelter has found many letting agents are refusing to rent to tenants who receive housing benefits.’
Rights Info, 22nd August 2018
Source: rightsinfo.org
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