Controversial benefit reforms come into force – The Independent

Posted October 27th, 2008 in benefits, news by sally

“The latest phase of the Government’s benefit reforms come into force today but faced immediate criticism, with claims they could lead to fewer poor children receiving child maintenance.”

Full story

The Independent, 27th October 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

R (RJM) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) – WLR Daily

Posted October 24th, 2008 in benefits, disabled persons, homelessness, human rights, law reports by sally

R (RJM) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) [2008] UKHL 63; [2008] WLR (D) 00; [2008] WLR (D) 328

“The policy of disentitling persons without accommodation from receiving the disability premium to which they would otherwise be entitled in their income support amounted to discrimination within art 14 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms but it was lawful as it could be justified on policy grounds.”

WLR Daily, 23rd October 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Convicts push for benefits rights – BBC News

Posted September 22nd, 2008 in benefits, news, prisons by sally

“Two inmates of Broadmoor secure mental hospital – convicted of murder and rape – are arguing for the right to claim full state benefits.”

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BBC News, 19th September 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Killer and rapist launch bid for state benefits – The Times

Posted September 19th, 2008 in benefits, news, prisons by sally

“A convicted murderer and a rapist have launched a High Court action that could see convicted serial killers including Beverley Allitt and Peter Sutcliffe receive thousands of pounds in benefits while still incarcerated.”

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The Times, 19th September 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Section 57 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act – draft regulations – Ministry of Justice

Posted August 27th, 2008 in benefits, disclosure, legal aid, news by sally

“A consultation on draft regulations made under section 57 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 regarding the disclosure of information from the Department of Work and Pensions and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in order to facilitate the assessment of a defendant’s financial eligibility for legal aid at the magistrates’ court.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 26th August 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Regina (Heffernan) v Rent Service – Times Law Reports

Posted August 21st, 2008 in benefits, housing, law reports, rent by sally

Regina (Heffernan) v Rent Service

House of Lords

“Rent officers should not base a local reference rent on too large an area.”

The Times, 20th August 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

R (Heffernan) v Rent Service – WLR Daily

Posted August 4th, 2008 in benefits, housing, law reports, rent by sally

R (Heffernan) v Rent Service; [2008] WLR (D) 279

“Rent officers, in identifying the ‘locality’ under Sch 1, Pt I to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997, as amended, needed to assemble only enough ‘neighbourhoods’ to satisfy the requirements of para 4(6)(c). ‘A broad geographical area’ was misleading. ‘Neighbourhood’ was similarly not to be interpreted as comprising too large an area. The rent officer’s inquiry was restricted to the ‘facilities and services’ specified in para 4(6)(b).”

WLR Daily, 1st August 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Welfare reform plan to get thousands to work – The Independent

Posted July 21st, 2008 in benefits, news by sally

“Radical plans to get hundreds of thousands of people off benefits and into work will be launched today by the Government.”

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The Independent, 21st July 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Drug users risk benefit cuts – The Observer

Posted July 21st, 2008 in alcohol abuse, benefits, drug abuse, news, unemployment by sally

“The unemployed will be forced to declare drug or heavy drinking habits when they apply for benefits and will have payments cut if they give misleading answers, under government proposals which were announced yesterday.”

Full story

The Observer, 20th July 2008

Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk

General Sir Richard Dannatt welcomes plan to increase payments to wounded troops – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 18th, 2008 in armed forces, benefits, compensation, news by sally

“A package of welfare improvements for the military, including a doubling of compensation payments, has been welcomed by the head of the Army as ‘very good start’ towards giving the Armed Forces the treatment they deserve.”

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Daily Telegraph, 18th July 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fraud: Whitehall ‘doomed to lose £1bn of benefit payments every year’ – The Guardian

Posted July 8th, 2008 in benefits, fraud, government departments, news by sally

“The Whitehall department fighting benefit fraud and error will always lose more than £1bn of taxpayers’ cash every year to cheats and through mistakes, the civil servant running the department tells MPs in a letter published today.”

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The Guardian, 8th July 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Benefit fraud ‘needs firm action’ – BBC News

Posted July 8th, 2008 in benefits, fraud, news, prosecutions by sally

“The government needs to do more to prosecute suspected benefit fraudsters, MPs have said.”

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BBC News, 8th July 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Hanoman v Southwark London Borough Council (No 2) – Times Law Reports

Posted June 24th, 2008 in benefits, housing, law reports, right to buy by sally

Hanoman v Southwark London Borough Council (No 2)

Court of Appeal

“Once a council tenant had served upon a council an operative notice of delay under the statutory right-to-buy scheme, rent paid by way of housing benefit counted towards the purchase price payable by the tenant for the council property.”

The Times, 24th June 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Hanoman v Southwark London Borough Council (No 2) – WLR Daily

Posted June 16th, 2008 in benefits, housing, law reports, right to buy by sally

Hanoman v Southwark London Borough Council (No 2) [2008] EWCA Civ 624; [2008] WLR (D) 192

“Where a council tenant exercising his right to buy had served an operative notice of delay on the council, the housing benefit which he received counted as the payment of rent so as to reduce the purchase price for the purposes of ss 153A(5), 153B and 155(3A) of the 1985 Act, as amended.”

WLR Daily, 12th June 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

‘Crippled’ benefit fraud jailed – BBC News

Posted June 6th, 2008 in benefits, fraud, news, sentencing by sally

“A man who said he could barely walk and claimed £90,000 in benefits has been jailed for 18 months after fraud inspectors filmed him playing football.”

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BBC News, 6th June 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Benefits officers enlisted to tackle anti-social behaviour – The Independent

Posted May 9th, 2008 in ASBOs, benefits, news by sally

“Officials from housing benefits officers to TV licence inspectors are to be enlisted in the fight against anti-social behaviour, under plans unveiled today by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.”

Full story

The Independent, 8th May 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

More lie detectors to curb fraud – BBC News

Posted May 7th, 2008 in benefits, fraud, news by sally

“Fifteen councils across Britain are to be offered lie detectors to help catch out benefit cheats who cost taxpayers up to £400m a year.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th May 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mayor who refereed while on benefits faces jail – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 22nd, 2008 in benefits, disabled persons, fraud, news by sally

“A town’s mayor is facing jail after being caught refereeing football matches while claiming more than £9,000 in disability benefits.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 22nd April 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fraudster jailed after claiming £85,000 for non-existent children – The Guardian

Posted April 11th, 2008 in benefits, fraud, news by sally

“A fraudster was jailed today for claiming more than £85,000 in tax credits for 16 non-existent children.

David Wilshaw, 58, was jailed for 20 months at Bristol crown court for masterminding the scam to claim child tax benefits over four years.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Incapacity benefit claimaints lose incentive to stay sick – The Times

Posted March 28th, 2008 in benefits, news by sally

“Incentives that encourage people to stay on incapacity benefit were scrapped yesterday in the latest stage of the Government’s welfare reform package.”

Full story

The Times, 28th March 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk