Welfare Rights Bulletin articles

Simon Osborne describes the main benefit and tax credit provisions in the 2007 Budget, as set out in the Budget Report.

Edward Graham looks at recent announcements and rumours regarding lone parents and benefit.

Pamela Fitzpatrick gives a brief overview of the changes to benefit rules brought about by the Accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU.

It may have been thought that, with his success in the case of B, the Secretary of State would have been content with the overpayment recovery powers in section 71 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.

Simon Osborne looks at the law on reporting changes of circumstance, in the light of recent case law and the ongoing centralisation of offices at Jobcentre Plus.

Stewart Wright reports on the recent Tribunal of Commissioners' decision - CSDLA/133/2005 - which considered whether thinking is a bodily function and whether prompting and motivating can count as attention for AA and DLA purposes.

Judith Hodson, of Rochdale Council Advice Service, provides a summary of social security commissioners' decisions regarding mental health and incapacity.

Beth Lakhani describes new rules on reporting changes of circumstances for tax credits.

At first blush, it may seem that the ECtHR's decision in Stec has opened up a simple route for successfully applying Hockenjos to all shared cases. Stewart Wright suggests that this is not the case and that such arguments remain difficult.

David Simmons examines the barriers to accessing means-tested benefits for full-time students who have to interrupt their studies because of pregnancy.