Read the latest social welfare news from around the UK.
PIP Delays and DWP withdrawing claims
thanks to Nigel Wicks Welfare Benefits Officer at Southdown Housing for this-
Dear all,
Over the past few months, we have all read updates on unacceptable delays in the PIP process so I thought I would share a story too.
Independent Report on JSA Sanctions
Matthew Oakley has carried out a structured report on the working of JSA sanctions. Many of you have been explaining how your clients are often left without money for weeks or months because of sanctions.
Here to Help- Members' Area
Please post consultancy queries in the discussion forum where we will help. Here's four of the latest posts-
“should son stay as part of mum's claim?”
“Needing a bank account- HB refusing to pay by cheque”
“Profoundly Deaf client and ESA”
“carer no longer counted as carer as disabled persons DLA has gone down”
Universal Credit- Eleven new local support trials announced
The 11 new trials are due to begin in September 2014. They will be led by partnerships between jobcentres and LAs from across Great Britain, to look at the best way to prepare claimants for the world of work; by helping them with online access and digital support, and managing their finances on a monthly basis.
Voluntary Work Under Universal Credit
Lord Feud has given some detail around the treatment of voluntary work under Universal Credit(which are slightly more generous than those under Job Seekers Allowance)-
Members' Area – new Resources!
We have added 3 up to date at a glance guides to our Members' area; the Work Capability Assessment 'Descriptors, Exemptions and Exceptions' for the two main medical tests(9 and 5 pages long) and also an at a glance glance guide to Personal Independence Payment Activity Descriptors and Definitions(8 pages long). The checklists can be copied for use with your clients.
PIP Level of Service and Delays Unacceptable say Public Accounts Committee
The Public Accounts committee has recommended urgent action-Penalty clauses (service credits) should be invoked where necessary, clear the backlog of claims before the extension of natural migration across the country, take measures to ensure claimants are kept up to date, ensure a processing target
Child Poverty- Consultation on Setting Target
The Government are consulting on what the target should be for 'persistent child poverty'(where a child has lived in a household in relative poverty for 3 out of the last 4 years).
State Pensions- Law Change from 2016
The Pensions Act 2014 has put in place changes to the State Retirement Pension for those who reach retirement age from 6/4/2016. Key differences compared to the current system-
DHP's Figures Breakdown
The government has released figures to show what councils gave discretionary housing payments for in 2013/14. The budgets in Scotland and Wales were overspent but in England 231 out of 316 authorities did not spend their budgets.
plan for PIP- when claims will peak
PIP will potentially mean more work for you and a possible reduction in your clients' income.
The government (Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 12 June 2014, c249W) has given predictions about when Personal Independence Payment(PIP) claims will peak.
Universal Credit Calculator
Get ready for Universal Credit. We have just unveiled our new Universal Credit Calculator in our members area. Features of the calculator-
Give your clients a clear idea of how much Universal Credit they should be due in any assessment period
Friendly 'visual' format
Prompts to help you build expertise
PIP- Extra Avenue for Complaint
Thank you to Joe Power, our Welfare Benefits solicitor, for supplying another avenue to explore in dealing with delays to the administration of PIP claims. We have mentioned in previous newsletters about complaining initially to the DWP and ATOS/ CAPITA and then contacting your client's MP. Joe has suggested writing directly to the solicitors at the DWP-
Universal Credit- more news
Zero Hours Contracts- JSA claimants won't be expected to apply for zero hours contract jobs. In a policy change, under Universal Credit, the government has said that ''We expect claimants to do all they reasonably can to look for and move into paid work.
Fraud Risk- Universal Credit
The Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, Dame Anne Begg MP, has commented that there may be an increased risk of fraud with Universal Credit housing costs