What happens when you’re deported to Britain? – BBC News

‘A widowed mother-of-five who has lived in Australia for most of her life is facing deportation to the UK. What awaits her when she gets off the plane, asks Claire Bates.’

Full story

BBC News, 24th May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Benefit sanctions lead claimants to suicide, crime and destitution, warns damning report – The Independent

Posted May 25th, 2016 in benefits, delay, local government, mental health, news, sanctions, self-harm, suicide by sally

‘Benefit sanctions are “devastating” for claimants and can lead to destitution, crime, suicide, and throw up barriers to employment, a wide-ranging report probing the effects of removing payments from Salford’s residents has claimed.’

Full story

The Independent, 25th May 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Suicides of benefit claimants reveal DWP flaws, says inquiry – The Guardian

‘A series of secret internal inquiries into the deaths of people claiming social security reveal that ministers were repeatedly warned of shortcomings in the treatment of vulnerable claimants facing potentially traumatic cuts to their benefits entitlements.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Childcare vouchers and maternity leave – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling on childcare vouchers is at odds with the approach taken by most employers.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th May 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Misc on taxes – council and bedroom – Nearly Legal

Posted April 20th, 2016 in benefits, council tax, housing, news by sally

‘Council tax – how do you go about setting aside and/or appealing a council tax liability order? It turns out to be far from straightforward (you might already have known this. I didn’t!). In Okon v London Borough Of Lewisham [2016] EWHC 864 (Ch) – quite astonishingly, an appeal against a making of a bankruptcy order – Mr. Robin Hollington QC addressed the issue. The bankruptcy petition was founded on a number of council tax liability orders and the efforts of Ms Okon to set aside those orders were at issue.’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 19th April 2016

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Ten new laws that come into force in April 2016 – and how they affect you – The Independent

‘April 2016 is a month of big changes for people living and working in the UK. A number of new laws and policies are coming into force, affecting just about everyone from public sector workers to dog owners. Here’s what the new laws could mean for you.’

Full story

The Independent, 3rd April 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

DWP tribunal criticises Labour MP Jess Phillips for ‘showing too much affection and friendship’ – The Independent

‘A Labour MP has been criticised by a judge at a tribunal for showing too much affection and friendship towards a constituent on disability benefits. ‘

Full story

The Independent, 3rd April 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Government spends £100,000 on lawyers to defend the bedroom tax – The Independent

Posted March 29th, 2016 in appeals, benefits, disabled persons, fees, housing, news, social security by sally

‘The Department for Work and Pensions has spent over £100,000 on lawyers fighting a court battle to save its controversial “bedroom tax” policy.’

Full story

The Independent, 28th March 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Council to share intelligence after discovery of £1.4m housing benefit fraud – Local Government Lawyer

‘The London Borough of Redbridge is to share information and intelligence with other councils and HM Revenue and Customs, after three people were found guilty of a £1.4m housing benefit fraud.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 15th March 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Broken’ disability benefits need total overhaul, says government adviser – The Guardian

Posted March 11th, 2016 in benefits, disabled persons, employment, news by tracey

‘Controversial fit-for-work tests should be abandoned and benefit sanctions scrapped for people with chronic illness or a disability, an influential government adviser has said.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Robert Thomas: Local Government Devolution in England – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘At last, devolution is happening in England, but there are some areas of concern especially as regards the lack of public engagement and the legal framework.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 2nd March 2016

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Peers inflict second government defeat on disability benefit cuts – BBC News

Posted March 1st, 2016 in benefits, bills, disabled persons, news, parliament, social security by sally

‘The government has been defeated in the House of Lords for a second time over plans to cut some disabled people’s benefits by £30 a week.’

Full story

BBC News, 29th February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Disabled people challenge bedroom tax at supreme court – The Guardian

‘The supreme court is to hear a legal challenge against the government’s bedroom tax from five people who argue it discriminates against the weak and vulnerable.’

Full story

The Guardian, 29th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Offers & CRU – Crooks v Hendricks Lovell Ltd [2016] – Park Square Barristers

Posted February 24th, 2016 in benefits, compensation, news, part 36 offers, personal injuries by sally

‘On the 15th January 2016 the Court of Appeal gave judgment in the case of Crooks v Hendricks Lovell Limited [2016] EWCA Civ 8, which concerned the interpretation of an offer made by a Defendant to settle a claim for personal injury and associated losses.’

Full story

Park Square Barristers, 9th February 2016

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

A “Legally Binding and Irreversible” Agreement on the Reform of the EU – Henderson Chambers

Posted February 24th, 2016 in benefits, EC law, freedom of movement, news, treaties by sally

‘This Note addresses the question whether the agreement representing the outcome of the negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union on the reform of the EU can appropriately be characterised, in the Prime Minister’s phrase, as “legally binding and irreversible”. The original version of the Note was submitted as written evidence to the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee (“the Scrutiny Committee”), following on from oral evidence that I gave, together with Sir Francis Jacobs QC and Martin Howe QC, on 18 November 2015. That version was prepared in relation to the draft texts accompanying the letter dated 2 February 2016 from Mr Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, to the Prime Minister. As presented here, the Note relates to the agreement finally reached on 19 February 2016, which differs in some respects from the texts circulated on 2 February, but not so as to cause me to take a different view of the matters discussed.’

Full story

Henderson Chambers, 20th February 2016

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

Bedroom tax challenge success – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 5th, 2016 in appeals, benefits, disability discrimination, domestic violence, housing, news by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal has given its judgment in a conjoined appeal of two of the latest challenges to the bedroom tax/removal of spare room subsidy (delete as you see fit), holding that it was unlawfully discriminatory in its application to 1.A female victim of serious domestic violence living in a home significantly adapted (including the provision of a “safe room”) to ensure her safety in the face of threats from her former partner; and 2. A severely disabled 15 year old boy cared for by his grandmother and her partner, who required a carer to stay in their home two nights per week.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd February 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Preferring Burnip: Discrimination without justification – Nearly Legal

‘The Court of Appeal tackles the bedroom tax and discrimination again, and, a year on from MA & Ors, there is quite a difference.’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 31st January 2016

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

The DWP is forcing a rape victim to pay the Bedroom Tax on her police-installed panic room – The Independent

Posted January 28th, 2016 in appeals, benefits, housing, news, social security, victims by sally

‘The Department for Work and Pensions is trying to force a rape victim to pay the so-called “Bedroom Tax” on her police-installed panic room, it has emerged.’

Full story

The Independent, 27th January 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lords defeat for ministers over disability benefit cuts – BBC News

Posted January 28th, 2016 in benefits, bills, disabled persons, news, parliament, social security by sally

‘The government has been defeated in the Lords over plans to cut the benefits of people with illness and disabilities.’

Full story

BBC News, 27th January 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Appeal court rules bedroom tax discriminatory in two cases – The Guardian

‘A victim of domestic violence and the grandparents of a severely disabled teenager have won court of appeal challenges over the lawfulness of the bedroom tax.’

Full story

The Guardian, 27th January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk