‘A “computer says yes” program that automatically approves landlord requests to deduct hundreds of pounds from tenants’ universal credit benefits without requiring officials to check first with the claimant has been declared unlawful by the courts.’
The Guardian, 26th January 2025
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘White mail system handles “highly sensitive personal data” and people not told it is processing their information.’
The Guardian, 27th January 2025
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) consultation into plans to cut billions in disability benefits has been ruled unlawful by the High Court for being “unfair and misleading”.’
The Independent, 17th January 2025
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Labour’s plan to push through £3bn of cuts to incapacity benefits has received a setback after a judge ruled an official consultation setting out the proposals was misleading and unlawful.’
The Guardian, 16th January 2025
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The High Court has refused permission to challenge by way of judicial review an age assessment carried out by social workers employed by a Welsh council, which concluded that the claimant was an adult.’
Local Government Lawyer, 2nd December 2024
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in jail for a crime he did not commit, says the Ministry of Justice has left him “to rot” after telling him he is likely to have to wait months before learning if he is even eligible for compensation.’
The Guardian, 14th November 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Magistrates who made a “clearly irrational” order for a gas engineer to pay £22,000 within 28 days were following a “standard practice” which was unlawful, the High Court has ruled.’
Law Society's Gazette, 6th November 2024
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Two mothers who had children as a result of rape or coercion by former partners have been given permission to take the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to court for being denied exception to the two-child limit on universal credit.’
The Guardian, 4th November 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A woman has been ordered to pay back thousands of pounds to the Department for Work and Pensions after being incorrectly paid benefits she was told she was entitled to.’
BBC News, 17th September 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Karen Smith, Sarah Christy and Emily Howe round up the latest cases and court decisions of interest to housing associations and local authorities.’
Local Government Lawyer, 7th August 2024
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘A father with a newborn baby and a mother with two children are among the asylum seekers made homeless by the Home Office after it wrongly withdrew their claims, it can be revealed.’
The Guardian, 20th July 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘More than 200,000 people have wrongly faced investigation for housing benefit fraud and error after the performance of a government algorithm fell far short of expectations, the Guardian can reveal.’
The Guardian, 23rd June 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Five members of an organised criminal gang, which falsely claimed more than £53 million in Universal Credit in the largest benefit fraud in England and Wales, have been jailed.’
Crown Prosecution Service, 30th May 2024
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
‘The gang admitted £53.9m of fraudulent claims, and at Wood Green Crown Court on Thursday two of the gang members received what are thought to be the longest sentences ever passed down for benefit fraud.’
BBC News, 30th May 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The government is being investigated by the equalities watchdog over claims that its treatment of disabled benefits claimants may have broken the law.’
BBC News, 22nd May 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The treatment of chronically ill and disabled people by welfare officials, including benefits decisions subsequently linked to the deaths of vulnerable claimants, is to be formally investigated by Britain’s human rights watchdog.’
The Guardian, 22nd May 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is standing by its decision to convict two carers of benefit fraud, despite the cases leading to a public outcry.’
BBC News, 8th May 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The Court of Appeal today handed down an important judgment concerning the availability of damages under section 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998. The case confirms that damages can be awarded where a person is subjected to a system that puts them at an imminent risk of inhuman or degrading treatment without having to prove that the victim did in fact suffer inhuman or degrading treatment contrary to article 3 ECHR. I set out below a summary of what the case decided and some thoughts on its implications.’
Landmark Chambers, 18th April 2024
Source: www.landmarkchambers.co.uk
‘Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v JA (2024) UKUT 52 (AAC) (UTJ Church). This important Upper Tribunal decision holds that universal credit claimants leaving supported or temporary accommodation have been unlawfully losing ‘transitional protection’ due to the discriminatory effect of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014. It also holds that affected claimants can obtain a remedy through tribunal appeals.’
Nearly Legal, 23rd April 2024
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
© Inner Temple Library 2025