Ongoing News

Increased Numbers of claimants on on UC-175,000

click here for the full statistics.

Complaining about UC or JSA? Try this online method.

In a letter to the Work and Pensions Committee, the government has responded to concerns over sanctions-

Lord Freud has stated '...we will be exempting all recipients of carer’s allowance from the benefit cap, whether they are single or part of a couple.' The statement was made during a debate in the House of Lords on the Welfare Reform and Work Bill currently going through Parliament.&nbsp

News from a Large Housing Association- here's some of the problems experienced by one of the organisations we have provided training for-
'We currently have 596 tenants on UC.

Entitlement to Housing Benefit should continue without interruption during a sanction. In HB Bulletin U1/2015 the DWP guidance highlights-

The government has said'...Personal Independence Payment is designed to ensure decisions on entitlement, award leng

Mandatory Work Activity (MWA) is a short placement of work-related activity intended to help people on Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Universal Credit claimants in the all work–related requirements group gain skills that are useful for work. It lasts for 30 hours per week for 4 weeks.

The government has abandoned some of the planned cuts to Tax Credits announced in the Summer Budget 2015.  Other cuts to tax credits will go ahead,  for example limiting the Tax Credits payable to two children for new births from April 2017 and not applying the family element for new claims also from this date.

Rollout timetable amended- (new claims)'The government will begin the (national) rollout of the UC Digital Service in 2016, completing by 2021. This brings plans into line with recent assurance from the Major Projects Authority, and the OBR’s assumptions.' source- HM Treasury Spending Review and the Autumn Statement 2015.

DWP Touchbase (Nov) magazine has highlighted a rule-  

Sent to us by a Benefits Adviser.   We would be interested to hear your views on this letter(click here) received by a client with mental health problems on ESA-

Health Benefits and Universal Credit- 'so called cliff edges' introduced.

The Government has again extended the expected date for migration of existing benefit claims to Universal Credit-'The NAO Welfare Reform Report on UC outlined that the bulk of existing benefit claims will be migrated to UC by 2020 with the exception of som