Welfare Rights Bulletin articles

Sarah Clarke explains the options for claimants who are affected by the April 2011 changes to the housing benefit (HB) scheme it the light of the Court’s decision in CPAG v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2011] EWHC 2616 (Admin).

Henri Krishna examines the 104-week limit on claiming jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) housing costs, which will start to bite in January 2011.

Beth Lakhani and Edward Graham examine the labour market conditions for jobseeker’s allowance (JSA), when and how the requirement to be actively seeking work and available for work applies and what flexibilities are built into the rules.

Edward Graham takes a look at discretionary housing payments (DHPs) and considers their scope to help claimants meet their rent in the light of the cuts to housing benefit (HB).

Simon Osborne considers some of the recent caselaw concerning tribunals and in particular the application of the Tribunal Rules.

Martin Williams discusses the problems with letters sent by the DWP to existing claimants of incapacity benefit (IB), severe disablement allowance (SDA) and income support (IS) on grounds of disability informing them that they are to be reassessed for employment and support allowance (ESA).

Simon Osborne describes the rules and arrangements that provide for claimants to be referred to the new employment programme, which replaces many of the existing programmes.

Martin Williams discusses a pending case which assists claimants struggling to cope because disputes about their entitlement are pending before a tribunal.

Graham Tegg discusses the Patmalniece decision.

A recent decision of the Upper Tribunal may make it easier for tax credit claimants to actually get an appeal heard by a First-tier Tribunal. Edward Graham explains.