Ongoing News

Housing Benefit guidance has been issued to try to reduce the misdirection by Benfit Authorities for clients with more than 2 children in digital(full service) Universal Credit areas.

The number of people on Universal Credit as of 8 June 2017 was 540 thousand. Of these people 210 thousand (39 per cent) were in employment. 

Book now for our updated Universal Credit 2017 course. 

The new team at the Department for Work and Pensions is:

A press release from the last coalition government still holds true.

‘Up to £2.93 billion of Pension Credit goes unclaimed every year and as many

as 1.6 million people could be entitled to this money. ‘

Guidance (HB U2/2017) has been issued by the government after a case was won

Atos Healthcare is changing its name to Independent Assessment Services(IAS). They say-

'... we have introduced a new business name that better represents the work we do independently assessing PIP cases.'

Nos. on UC- The number of people on Universal Credit as of 11 May 2017 was 530 thousand. Of these people 200 thousand (38 per cent) were in employment. 

Book now for our updated Universal Credit 2017 course. 

A stunning 86% of ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) decisions remain unchanged on mandatory reconsideration(click here for the figures) .... and then 70% are reversed on appeal!

The Public Law Project have obtained some figures from the government that show there is a key performance indicator for the outcome of mandatory reconsiderations.

An earnings limit has been set in Scotland from 1/8/2017 above which households won't be able to get free school meals.

The new earnings threshold is set at £610 in the assessment period immediately preceding the application for a free school lunch or early learning and childcare.

A regulation has been issued that means support for mortgage interest will fall from 3.16% to 2.61% from 18/6/2017. Mortgage interest is normally part of the calculation for those with mortgages on Universal Credit, Income Support, JSA(income Based), ESA(income related), Pension Credit (guarantee credit).

520,000 were on UC on 13/4/2017.

Around 37% are in employment and 63% not.

Book now for our updated Universal Credit2017 course. 

If Labour are elected they say they will repeal some of the £billions of cuts to the Bene ts System over the last 7 years.

The Labour Party manifesto says they will- '• Scrap the punitive sanctions regime
• Scrap the Bedroom Tax
• reinstate Housing Bene t for under-21s

Nos. on UC-

The number of people on Universal Credit as of 9 March 2017 was 490 thousand. Of these people 190 thousand (38 per cent) were in employment. 

JSA bus fares to attend job centre? -