The Tribunal unleashed – Nearly Legal
‘This was the DWP’s appeal to the Upper Tribunal of the First Tier Tribunal’s decision on the Carmichael’s bedroom tax appeal.’
Nearly Legal, 27th April 2017
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/
Category: benefits
Government unveils eight-page ‘rape assessment form’ for mothers hit by tax credit cuts – The Independent
‘Women who have a child conceived due to rape will have to fill in an eight-page form to prevent the Government from withdrawing their tax credits.’
The Independent, 6th April 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Ilott -v- Mitson: Claims by adult children contesting wills – the law is unsatisfactory – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
‘At long last the saga has reached a conclusion. The Supreme Court handed down its judgment in the case of Ilott (Respondent) v The Blue Cross and others (Appellants) [2017] UKSC 17 on 15 March, a case having its roots in the death of the late Mrs Jackson (Mrs Ilott’s mother) some 13 years ago.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 20th March 2017
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Discretionary Housing Payments and long term awards – Nearly Legal
‘R (on the application of Halvai) v Hammersmith and Fulham LBC (2017) QBD (Admin) (Sara Cockerill QC) 09/03/2017. This was a judicial review of H&F’s refusal of Discretionary Housing Payments to Ms H. Ms H has severe autism and learning and behavioural difficulties. She requires one-to-one care, suffered from extreme anxiety and so had vital and complex accommodation needs, including a very quiet environment.’
Nearly Legal, 14th March 2017
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
DWP ‘tells disability benefits assessors to discriminate against people with mental health conditions’ – The Independent
‘The Department for Work and Pensions has told its disability benefits assessors to discriminate against people with mental health conditions compared to those with physical problems.’
The Independent, 14th March 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Benefit claimants twice as likely to experience multiple legal problems, according to MoJ study – Legal Voice
‘People receiving means-tested benefits were twice as likely to experience multiple legal problems as those who did not, according to new research by the Ministry of Justice. It also found that almost one in four black and minority ethnic adults received no help in relation to their legal problems compared with 15% of white adults.’
Legal Voice, 7th March 2017
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
Legal problem and resolution survey 2014 to 2015 – Ministry of Justice
‘These reports present the findings from the Legal Problem and Resolution Survey 2014 to 2015, a telephone survey of 10,058 adults in England and Wales.’
Ministry of Justice, 3rd march 2017
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
What is the no recourse to public funds condition? – Free Movement
‘The “no recourse to public funds” condition is imposed on grants of limited leave to enter or remain with the effect of prohibiting the person holding that leave from accessing certain defined public funds. A person who claims public funds despite such a condition is committing a criminal offence and there may well be future immigration consequences as well, as any existing leave can be curtailed or a future application refused.’
Free Movement, 21st February 2017
Source: www.freemovement.org.uk
Army brigadier becomes most senior officer to appear at court martial in 65 years – Daily Telegraph
‘An Army brigadier has become the most senior officer to appear before a court martial in 65 years as he admitted breaking rules when he claimed money for his sons’ school fees.’
Daily Telegraph, 25th January 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Thousands left homeless by shortage of legal aid lawyers, say charities – The Guardian
‘Thousands of people are being made homeless every year because they cannot find lawyers to help them resist eviction, charities are warning.’
The Guardian, 18th December 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Housing benefit – Local Government Law
‘Housing benefit is “a means tested benefit provided under section 130 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 and subordinate regulations”. Its “purpose is to help claimants with their rental costs”. There is “a prescribed mechanism for determining in each case the appropriate maximum housing benefit”.’
Local Government Law, 5th December 2016
The UN Just Criticised The UK’s Record On Disability Rights – RightsInfo
‘The UK government’s welfare reform policy has resulted in systematic violations of the human rights of disabled persons, according to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.’
RightsInfo, 14th November 2016
Source: www.rightsinfo.org
With and without foundation – Bedroom tax in Supreme Court – Nearly Legal
‘The Supreme Court has handed down its judgment in the culmination of years of cases on the discriminatory impact of the ‘removal of the spare room subsidy’ – the bedroom tax. The outcome was mixed, even including a split judgment on one case, but in at least one respect, the bedroom tax regulations were held to unlawfully and unjustifiably discriminate against households with disabled members.’
Nearly Legal, 9th November 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Families win supreme court appeals over ‘unfair’ bedroom tax – The Guardian
‘Two families who claimed that the bedroom tax, which restricts housing subsidies, was unfair have won their appeals against the UK government at the supreme court.’
The Guardian, 9th November 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Seven charts which show how the UK is failing domestic violence victims – The Independent
‘Research by Women’s Aid has revealed that two-thirds of domestic violence shelters face closure under Government welfare cuts.’
The Independent, 5th September 2016
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Two-thirds of domestic violence shelters facing closure due to welfare cuts, research suggests – The Independent
‘Two-thirds of domestic violence shelters in England and Wales are facing closure due to welfare reforms, research has found.’
The Independent, 5th September 2016
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Mother jailed for making children have surgery so she could claim benefits – The Guardian
‘A mother who lied about her children being ill, forcing them to have surgery as part of a plan to falsely claim benefits, has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.’
The Guardian, 15th August 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Trans women are being forced to get divorced just to claim their pension – The Independent
‘Where an individual is recognised by the state in her passport and driving licence as a woman, why should she be required to end her marriage just to claim the pension that is rightfully hers?’
The Independent, 11th August 2016
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Anger over legal aid bill for Ellie Butler’s parents – The Guardian
‘The grandfather of murdered six-year-old Ellie Butler has condemned the legal aid granted to her killer father, amid reports the taxpayer picked up a bill of more than £1.5m for his legal expenses.’
The Guardian, 6th August 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ellie Butler murder: Father displayed ‘pattern of impulsive violence’ – BBC News
‘A man who murdered his six-year-old daughter was described as displaying a “pattern of impulsive violence” months before she died, it has been revealed.’
BBC News, 30th July 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
