‘No DSS’ letting bans ‘ruled unlawful’ by court – BBC News

‘A judge has ruled that blanket bans on renting properties to people on housing benefit are unlawful and discriminatory. The “momentous” court ruling found a single mother-of-two had experienced indirect discrimination when a letting agent refused to rent to her.’

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BBC News, 14th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

London councils call on government to suspend NRPF immigration status – The Guardian

Posted July 9th, 2020 in benefits, coronavirus, homelessness, immigration, local government, London, news by sally

‘London councils have called on the government to suspend the controversial “no recourse to public funds” (NRPF) immigration status during the coronavirus pandemic to prevent a rise in homelessness.’

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The Guardian, 8th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Digitisation of Welfare and Irrationality Review: SSWP v Johnson – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘In Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Johnson & Ors [2020] EWCA Civ 778, the England & Wales Court of Appeal took the uncommon step of holding an executive decision unlawful for Wednesbury irrationality. Johnson highlights that irrationality is not merely a desperate ground of last resort for judicial review applicants. The case is also an important illustration of how substantive review may be relied upon by those affected by the digitisation of welfare.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 30th June 2020

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Home Office increases support for trafficking victims after lawyers argue rates are ‘discriminatory’ – The Independent

‘The Home Office has increased support for suspected modern slavery victims after facing a legal challenge claimed the current levels were discriminatory and left vulnerable mothers unable to afford basic essentials.’

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The Independent, 1st July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Universal credit rules irrational and unlawful, judge says – The Guardian

‘Four single mothers have secured a victory over the government after the appeal court ruled that rigid universal credit payment rules that leave tens of thousands of working benefit claimants out of pocket were irrational and unlawful.’

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The Guardian, 22nd June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Councils call for suspension of No Recourse to Public Funds condition – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 18th, 2020 in benefits, coronavirus, immigration, local government, news by sally

‘The Local Government Association has called for the suspension of the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) “so that all vulnerable individuals are entitled to receive support during the coronavirus crisis”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th June 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Woman who falsely claimed more than £1m in benefits is jailed – The Guardian

Posted June 9th, 2020 in benefits, fraud, news, sentencing by sally

‘A woman has been jailed after falsely claiming more than £1m in benefits in what has been described as one of the biggest social security frauds to be prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).’

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The Guardian, 8th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Public Funds Part 3: Change of conditions to allow access to public funds – Richmond Chambers

Posted May 26th, 2020 in benefits, chambers articles, immigration, news by sally

‘In this third post, following on from Public Funds Part 1: Public Funds and Coronavirus and Public Funds Part 2: Claiming Child Benefit we consider how to apply for a change of conditions to allow access to public funds, for individuals who are in the UK with limited leave to enter or remain subject to a condition of having no recourse to public funds.’

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Richmond Chambers, 15th May 2020

Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk

Public Funds Part 2: Claiming Child Benefit – Richmond Chambers

Posted May 19th, 2020 in benefits, children, coronavirus, immigration, news by sally

‘In this second post, following on from Public Funds Part 1: Public Funds and Coronavirus we examine the one benefit that can potentially be claimed by migrants subject to the no recourse to public funds condition – child benefit.’

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Richmond Chambers, 15th May 2020

Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk

Public Funds Part 1: Public Funds and Coronavirus – Richmond Chambers

‘No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) is a condition imposed on an individual’s immigration status in the UK, which prevents them from accessing certain benefits and forms of support. This continues to cause concern and particularly more so now for those whose income has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. This article will form part of a series of 3 articles on public funds and the recent developments in light of the Coronavirus outbreak.’

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Richmond Chambers, 15th May 2020

Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk

Coronavirus: Sex workers ‘should have access to support fund’ – BBC News

Posted May 15th, 2020 in benefits, coronavirus, news, prostitution, remuneration by sally

‘Calls have been made for an emergency fund to support sex workers whose earnings have fallen during the coronavirus crisis.’

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BBC News, 15th May 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

London borough defends legal challenge to level of support provided to family with child in need and older sibling – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 15th, 2020 in benefits, children, families, food, local government, news by sally

‘The London Borough of Bexley was entitled to decide not to pay to feed the older brother of a child in need who lived in the same home.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th May 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Benefit claimants unlawfully short-changed, court rules – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2020 in appeals, benefits, compensation, government departments, human rights, news by sally

‘The government acted unlawfully when it refused to compensate two low-income households left up to £180 a month out of pocket when their legacy benefits were wrongly stopped and they had no choice but to move on to universal credit, the appeal court has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Boy, 8, Wins Legal Bid Against Home Office Policy Which Left Him Street Homeless – Each Other

‘An eight-year-old British boy and his migrant mum were unlawfully made street homeless by a Home Office policy which denied them social security payments, a court has ruled.’

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Each Other, 8th May 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Home Office’s denial of benefits to migrant families unlawful, court rules – The Guardian

‘Lawyers for an eight-year-old British boy have won a ruling that a Home Office policy denying families like his access to the welfare safety net is unlawful.’

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The Guardian, 7th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

The COVID-19 Self-Employment Income Support Scheme – Thomas More Chambers

Posted May 7th, 2020 in benefits, coronavirus, news, remuneration, self-employment by sally

‘On 26 March 2020 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a package of support for Britain’s self-employed workers to help them through the COVID-19 crisis. It became immediately clear that higher earners making profits above £50,000 would lose out. The Chancellor, however, highlighted that it would benefit 95% of people who receive the majority of their income from self-employment and that it was “reasonable, proportionate and fair” to exclude those higher earners. The Treasury estimated that this approximately 3.8 million people would benefit.’

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Thomas More Chambers, 29th April 2020

Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk

Eight-year-old boy takes Home Office to court for denying family benefits – The Guardian

Posted May 7th, 2020 in benefits, children, coronavirus, immigration, judicial review, news by sally

‘An eight-year-old British boy is taking the Home Office to the high court over its policy of denying families like his access to the welfare safety net.’

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The Guardian, 6th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Errol Graham death: Judicial review move over DWP policy – BBC News

‘The family of a mentally ill man who starved to death after his benefits were cut have applied for a judicial review of government policy.’

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BBC News, 1st May 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Full-time carer crowd funds investigation into legal challenge over failure to increase Carer’s Allowance during coronavirus pandemic – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 17th, 2020 in benefits, carers, coronavirus, disabled persons, families, news by sally

‘A mother who cares full-time for her severely disabled daughter is crowdfunding an investigation into the potential for a legal challenge over the government’s decision not to increase the Carer’s Allowance in line with other benefits in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Coronavirus: Single parents take government to court over welfare rules – BBC News

Posted April 3rd, 2020 in benefits, children, coronavirus, families, immigration, news by sally

‘A group of single parents who cannot claim welfare payments because of their migration status are suing the government.’

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BBC News, 3rd April 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk