Read the latest social welfare news from around the UK.
New Secretary of State for Work & Pensions
The new Secretary from State for Work and Pensions is Damian Green MP(taking over from the short lived Stephen Crabb MP). Other members of the team are-
Minister of State for Employment – Damian Hinds MP
4 Week Restriction for Housing Benefit and Pension Credit
From 28/7/2016, if a client expects to be absent from Great Britain for 4 weeks the above benefits are lost. Click here for the guidance.
More Appeals Lodged and More Won
Latest appeal statistics show that that the number of appeals is increasing mainly due to Personal Independence Payment(PIP) appeals. The rate at which clients win(overturn) their appeals is also increasing.
Mandatory Reconsideration Statistics
The latest statistics show that only 20% of ESA mandatory reconsiderations are revised in the client's favour. Around 12,000 mandatory reconsideration requests are received each month by the DWP. Lots of clients then go onto win at appeal.
Universal Credit latest
UC- in work conditionality- Eventually with Universal Credit it won't be enough for a claimant to work part time and get bene t. Claimants will be required to work and earn at least 35 x the minimum wage. If they don't achieve thistheywillbeexpectedtolookformoreworkandcouldbesubjecttobene tsanctions.
PIP Medicals- recording
Medicals are carried out by either Capita or ATOS and are an important part of the process for being assessed for PIP. Increasingly it seems that clients are needing to challenge PIP decisions to get what they are due under the law. Can you record a medical?
DHP Factsheet Available
The government have produced a handy factsheet about discretionary housing payments(DHPs). Click here.
£13 Billion Unclaimed in Welfare Benefits
|
unclaimed |
claimants |
amount unclaimed |
% of amount that could have been claimed |
|
pension credit |
1.4 million |
£3.1 billion |
69% |
|
Housing Benefit |
1.4 million |
Numbers on Universal Credit Continues to Rise
Numbers of claimants on on UC- 247.801 as of 14/4/2016. 39% are in employment. There is an average of 12,788 new claims per week.
Claimants Affected by the New Benefit Cap
The latest HB Direct newsletter advises that claimants who are likely to be affected by the changes to the benefit cap levels will be notified from 24/5/2016, and that councils have been sent scans containing details of those housing benefit claimants. What about Universal Credit claimants?
Advise your Clients to Attend Appeal Hearings
Around 60% of PIP appeals are successful for claimants. The government say-
DLA/ PIP to Stay in Payment for under 18's in Hospital
From 29/6/2016 a new regulation exempts under 18's claimants from the law that usually means that DLA/PIP stops after 28 days in hospital. Those on DLA who turn age 16 whilst in hospital would not be asked to be
PIP Video Relay Service Trial
Clients can access a Video Relay Service from 25 April on GOV.UK and there will also be a BSL video link which explains how to use the service.
Sick on JSA
Guidance here from the DWP clarifies the law governing how people can present as sick but stay on JSA. A client can be sick for up to 2 weeks twice in any 12 month period. They can also have an 'extended period of sickness' of 13 weeks(ifasicknoteorothermedicalevidenceisproduced).
Guidance on Universal Credit Digital Service Area Claims
The Digital Service area is expanding this year. The DWP has issued guidance to explain the latest postcodes where the Digital Service area will apply to new claims.
Exceptions where a claim for Tax Credit , Housing Benefit or Income support might still be made are given as-