iPhone evidence ‘could be more effective than court hearing’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Resolving neighbour disputes using iPhone evidence and a video hearing might be more effective than the parties travelling several miles to court, a senior government official has said, outlining significant developments to modernise the justice system.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 21st July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Mother forced her children to undergo serious operations they did not need to claim £375,000 benefits – The Independent

Posted July 20th, 2016 in benefits, child cruelty, children, families, medical treatment, news by sally

‘A mother has been convicted of child cruelty after forcing her children to undergo gastric surgery they didn’t need in order to claim £375,000 in benefits.’

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The Independent, 20th July 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court of Appeal: no room for “grandiloquent, rhetorical” advocacy in modern trials – Legal Futures

Posted July 8th, 2016 in advocacy, appeals, barristers, benefits, fraud, news by sally

‘The “grandiloquent, rhetorical and at times almost facetious” advocacy style of a criminal defence barrister has no place in modern trials, the Court of Appeal has said.’

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Legal Futures, 8th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Landlord sentenced after admitting conspiring to defraud council – Local Government Lawyer

‘A landlord has been sentenced to 17 months in prison suspended for 12 months after she admitted conspiring to defraud a district council.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th June 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

EU court rejects child benefits challenge – BBC News

Posted June 14th, 2016 in benefits, children, EC law, immigration, news, social services, tax credits by sally

‘A challenge to the UK’s right to deny some EU migrants child benefit and child tax credits has been rejected by European judges.’

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BBC News, 15th June 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

From the County Courts – deposits, evictions and introductory tenancies – Nearly Legal

‘Some county court cases reported in the indispensable ‘Housing: Recent Developments’ in Legal Action for May 2016. Cases involve introductory tenancies, deposits, harassment and illegal eviction.’

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Nearly Legal, 12th June 2016

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Refusnik rev: the vicar ​whose council tax protest could put him in jail – The Guardian

‘Retired clergyman Paul Nicolson, who is refusing to pay council tax in solidarity with those hit by benefit cuts, explains why he’s happy to take the consequences.’

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The Guardian, 8th June 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

What happens when you’re deported to Britain? – BBC News

‘A widowed mother-of-five who has lived in Australia for most of her life is facing deportation to the UK. What awaits her when she gets off the plane, asks Claire Bates.’

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BBC News, 24th May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Benefit sanctions lead claimants to suicide, crime and destitution, warns damning report – The Independent

Posted May 25th, 2016 in benefits, delay, local government, mental health, news, sanctions, self-harm, suicide by sally

‘Benefit sanctions are “devastating” for claimants and can lead to destitution, crime, suicide, and throw up barriers to employment, a wide-ranging report probing the effects of removing payments from Salford’s residents has claimed.’

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The Independent, 25th May 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Suicides of benefit claimants reveal DWP flaws, says inquiry – The Guardian

‘A series of secret internal inquiries into the deaths of people claiming social security reveal that ministers were repeatedly warned of shortcomings in the treatment of vulnerable claimants facing potentially traumatic cuts to their benefits entitlements.’

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The Guardian, 13th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Childcare vouchers and maternity leave – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling on childcare vouchers is at odds with the approach taken by most employers.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th May 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Misc on taxes – council and bedroom – Nearly Legal

Posted April 20th, 2016 in benefits, council tax, housing, news by sally

‘Council tax – how do you go about setting aside and/or appealing a council tax liability order? It turns out to be far from straightforward (you might already have known this. I didn’t!). In Okon v London Borough Of Lewisham [2016] EWHC 864 (Ch) – quite astonishingly, an appeal against a making of a bankruptcy order – Mr. Robin Hollington QC addressed the issue. The bankruptcy petition was founded on a number of council tax liability orders and the efforts of Ms Okon to set aside those orders were at issue.’

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Nearly Legal, 19th April 2016

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Ten new laws that come into force in April 2016 – and how they affect you – The Independent

‘April 2016 is a month of big changes for people living and working in the UK. A number of new laws and policies are coming into force, affecting just about everyone from public sector workers to dog owners. Here’s what the new laws could mean for you.’

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The Independent, 3rd April 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

DWP tribunal criticises Labour MP Jess Phillips for ‘showing too much affection and friendship’ – The Independent

‘A Labour MP has been criticised by a judge at a tribunal for showing too much affection and friendship towards a constituent on disability benefits. ‘

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The Independent, 3rd April 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Government spends £100,000 on lawyers to defend the bedroom tax – The Independent

Posted March 29th, 2016 in appeals, benefits, disabled persons, fees, housing, news, social security by sally

‘The Department for Work and Pensions has spent over £100,000 on lawyers fighting a court battle to save its controversial “bedroom tax” policy.’

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The Independent, 28th March 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Council to share intelligence after discovery of £1.4m housing benefit fraud – Local Government Lawyer

‘The London Borough of Redbridge is to share information and intelligence with other councils and HM Revenue and Customs, after three people were found guilty of a £1.4m housing benefit fraud.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th March 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Broken’ disability benefits need total overhaul, says government adviser – The Guardian

Posted March 11th, 2016 in benefits, disabled persons, employment, news by sally

‘Controversial fit-for-work tests should be abandoned and benefit sanctions scrapped for people with chronic illness or a disability, an influential government adviser has said.’

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The Guardian, 11th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Robert Thomas: Local Government Devolution in England – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘At last, devolution is happening in England, but there are some areas of concern especially as regards the lack of public engagement and the legal framework.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 2nd March 2016

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Peers inflict second government defeat on disability benefit cuts – BBC News

Posted March 1st, 2016 in benefits, bills, disabled persons, news, parliament, social security by sally

‘The government has been defeated in the House of Lords for a second time over plans to cut some disabled people’s benefits by £30 a week.’

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BBC News, 29th February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Disabled people challenge bedroom tax at supreme court – The Guardian

‘The supreme court is to hear a legal challenge against the government’s bedroom tax from five people who argue it discriminates against the weak and vulnerable.’

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The Guardian, 29th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk