Welfare Rights Bulletin articles

A trio of official publications in late 2007 and early this year provide further detail of the increasing compulsion - or conditionality - being applied to benefit claimants, with the accompanying threat of sanctions (and resulting poverty) for non-compliance. Simon Osborne describes the announcements.

Nearly five years on, and the tax credits scheme still appears to be a work in progress. Mark Willis looks at some of the latest changes and performance.

New housing benefit (HB) rent restriction rules - the 'local housing allowance' (LHA) rules - are due to be introduced nationwide from 7 April 2008. Far from simplifying the HB rules, a new layer of complexity will be added. .

Simon Osborne looks at the context and content of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has recently given an important judgement - Commission of the European Communities v the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (C-299/05, 18 October 2007). .

Two years on from her first report on the administration of tax credits, Tax credits: putting things right, the Parliamentary Ombudsman Ann Abraham has produced a second report, Tax credits: getting it wrong? Beth Lakhani outlines the report's main findings and recommendations.

The Tribunals Service has issued a guide for representatives at social security appeal tribunals - Good practice guidance for those who appear before appeal tribunals.

Simon Osborne looks at various approaches to applying the ‘substantial risk’ provision that is part of the test for incapacity for work.

On 25 July 2007, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Jane Kennedy MP, issued a statement relating to administrative errors concerning some finalised awards for 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06. The finalised award is a conclusive award and can only be revised under certain legal provisions.

The Government have published a Green Paper outlining proposals on achieving full employment, including the threat of more benefit sanctions for lone parents and the unemployed. Simon Osborne describes the main points.