CPAG has launched an innovative new service for advisers and claimants who want to know more about the different local schemes and short-term benefit advances which replaced the discretionary social fund in April 2013. Dan Norris explains what the free service will offer.

Simon Osborne reviews some important recent caselaw about the work capability assessment (WCA).

The future of localised welfare assistance schemes has been thrown into doubt as it emerged that DWP funding would end in April 2015. Dan Norris explains more, including news of the campaign to save the funding for the schemes.

On 21 February 2014 the Court of Appeal dismissed human rights challenges to the benefit cap and the bedroom tax. Mike Spencer considers the implications for human rights arguments in social security cases.

David Simmons examines the issues and options which arise in relation to the payment of benefit during a dispute about whether a claimant has limited capability for work.

Nick Jones takes a look at an advice sector-led proposal to increase investment in advice services in England and Wales.

Rebecca Walker, author of the immigration and residence rules section of CPAG’s Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook, explains the new residence requirements introduced from January 2014.

Mark Willis considers some recent and forthcoming changes to the administration of tax credits.

Simon Osborne describes a current split in the caselaw on the question of whether someone’s ability to ‘mobilise’ with a manual wheelchair refers only to functional limitations, or to wider personal factors such as the ability to store the chair. The split will hopefully be resolved in a forthcoming decision of a three-judge panel of the Upper Tribunal.

Tessa Gregory from Public Interest Solicitors considers the implications of the Supreme Court judgment in R (Reilly and Wilson) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Three single-parent families lost their judicial review challenge to the regulations implementing the £500 weekly cap on benefits in R(JS and others) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2013] EWHC 3350 (QB). Mike Spencer discusses the ruling and the implications for other families affected by the benefit cap.

Simon Osborne describes a current split in the caselaw on the question of whether someone’s ability to ‘mobilise’ with a manual wheelchair refers only to functional limitations, or to wider personal factors such as the ability to store the chair. The split will hopefully be resolved in a forthcoming decision of a three-judge panel of the Upper Tribunal.