Covid: ‘Perfect storm’ causing employment tribunal backlog – BBC News

Posted October 22nd, 2020 in benefits, coronavirus, delay, employment tribunals, mental health, news, redundancy by sally

‘Concerns are being raised over a Covid-related backlog of tribunal cases involving people who believe they have lost their jobs unfairly.’

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BBC News, 22nd October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘I have nothing’: Roma people left without support and at risk of exploitation due to digital-only status – The Independent

Posted October 6th, 2020 in benefits, brexit, citizenship, EC law, immigration, news by sally

‘People from Britain’s Roma community are being left unable to access vital support and are exposed to exploitation due to the government’s new digital-only status for EU citizens, research reveals.’

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The Independent, 5th October 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Homelessness application: Interim relief, suitability and housing benefit – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 11th, 2020 in benefits, homelessness, housing, judicial review, local government, news by sally

‘Clare Cullen considers a recent High Court decision to adjourn a case considering the suitability of interim accommodation where further information was required.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th September 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Disabled homeless man wins ‘no DSS’ case against estate agency – The Guardian

‘A homeless father of four with disabilities who was refused the chance to rent a private flat because he fell foul of the estate agents’ “no DSS” rules was unlawfully discriminated against, a court has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 9th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government spends £120m in taxpayer money fighting disability benefit claims in two years, figures show – The Independent

Posted September 2nd, 2020 in appeals, benefits, disabled persons, government departments, news, statistics, tribunals by sally

‘The government has spent more than £120m in taxpayers’ money fighting disability benefit claims in the last two years – despite losing three-quarters of tribunal appeals, The Independent can reveal.’

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The Independent, 1st September 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Benefit claimants face landlord discrimination despite ruling – BBC News

‘Thousands of landlords are trying to avoid renting their properties to benefit claimants, despite a judge ruling a blanket ban was unlawful.’

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BBC News, 28th August 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Suitability, affordability and benefit claims – Nearly Legal

‘A interim judicial review decision from May, but judgment just out. The issue was the suitability of temporary accommodation under section 188 Housing Act 1996 (judicial review necessary, as no s.202 review option on s.188 accommodation).’

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Nearly Legal, 23rd August 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Landlords in England ignoring ‘no DSS’ ban, claim private renters – The Guardian

Posted August 3rd, 2020 in benefits, charities, housing, landlord & tenant, news by sally

‘Hundreds of private renters in England in receipt of benefits are still struggling to secure accommodation despite a landmark ruling saying that landlords are not allowed to discriminate against this group.’

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The Guardian, 2nd August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

No recourse to public funds; no recourse to dignity – 1MCB

Posted July 30th, 2020 in benefits, children, human rights, immigration, news by sally

‘Geeta Koska recently published a blog on the future impact on the protection of children’s welfare of the High Court’s decision in R (W, A Child By His Litigation Friend J) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department & Another [2020] EWHC 1299 (Admin). The blog was published in “Children and Young People Now”.’

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1MCB, July 2020

Source: 1mcb.com

Unfit for work? Fair trial rights means benefit pending review – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted July 28th, 2020 in appeals, benefits, disabled persons, employment, human rights, news by sally

‘Mr Connor, a litigant in person, yesterday persuaded the High Court to strike down a benefit review rule as a breach of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 25th July 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

DWP to increase support for vulnerable claimants after series of suicides – The Guardian

‘The Department for Work and Pensions is to overhaul its safeguarding systems following a series of high-profile failures in which mentally ill claimants took their own lives after having their benefits cut off by welfare officials.’

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Universal Credit: Mum wins High Court fight against DWP – BBC News

Posted July 22nd, 2020 in benefits, employment, government departments, news, remuneration by sally

‘A single working mother has won a High Court challenge against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over “irrational” universal credit rules.’

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BBC News, 20th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Data shows 900 women in UK affected by benefit cap ‘rape clause’ – The Guardian

‘Official figures show 900 women were forced to disclose that their child was conceived as a result of rape to claim social security help under the government’s two-child cap on benefits.’

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The Guardian, 17th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Claimant with Down Syndrome secures permission for judicial review of charging policy of county council – Local Government Lawyer

‘A 24-year-old woman with Down Syndrome has been granted permission for a judicial review challenge of Norfolk County Council’s policy of charging people for essential care and support.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th July 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Discrimination and ‘No DSS’ – Nearly Legal

‘As we have seen before, Shelter have been supporting discrimination claims under the Equality Act 2010 against letting agents who operate a ‘No DSS’ policy (meaning a refusal to even consider people claiming housing related benefits – who are often employed – as applicants for tenancies. The DSS ceased to exist in 2001, which suggests how longstanding this issue is). These claims all settled out of court. Now a claim has gone to judgment.’

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Nearly Legal, 14th July 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

‘No DSS’ letting bans ‘ruled unlawful’ by court – BBC News

‘A judge has ruled that blanket bans on renting properties to people on housing benefit are unlawful and discriminatory. The “momentous” court ruling found a single mother-of-two had experienced indirect discrimination when a letting agent refused to rent to her.’

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BBC News, 14th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

London councils call on government to suspend NRPF immigration status – The Guardian

Posted July 9th, 2020 in benefits, coronavirus, homelessness, immigration, local government, London, news by sally

‘London councils have called on the government to suspend the controversial “no recourse to public funds” (NRPF) immigration status during the coronavirus pandemic to prevent a rise in homelessness.’

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The Guardian, 8th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Digitisation of Welfare and Irrationality Review: SSWP v Johnson – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘In Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Johnson & Ors [2020] EWCA Civ 778, the England & Wales Court of Appeal took the uncommon step of holding an executive decision unlawful for Wednesbury irrationality. Johnson highlights that irrationality is not merely a desperate ground of last resort for judicial review applicants. The case is also an important illustration of how substantive review may be relied upon by those affected by the digitisation of welfare.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 30th June 2020

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Home Office increases support for trafficking victims after lawyers argue rates are ‘discriminatory’ – The Independent

‘The Home Office has increased support for suspected modern slavery victims after facing a legal challenge claimed the current levels were discriminatory and left vulnerable mothers unable to afford basic essentials.’

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The Independent, 1st July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Universal credit rules irrational and unlawful, judge says – The Guardian

‘Four single mothers have secured a victory over the government after the appeal court ruled that rigid universal credit payment rules that leave tens of thousands of working benefit claimants out of pocket were irrational and unlawful.’

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The Guardian, 22nd June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com