In Flintshire, north Wales, one of the first counties to test the new payment, the council says rent arrears have gone up by £1m. One claimant there said a mistake left him with just £29 a month to live on. But the UK government said it had listened to concerns…

Four working mothers, supported by Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and Leigh Day Solicitors, defeat DWP in a Judicial Review hearing, relating to the treatment of their earnings in the assessment of their Universal Credit award. At paragraph 68 of the judgement it concludes: “On a proper interpretation of regulation…

Universal Credit claimants who are expecting to receive their money between Christmas and New Year should not experience a delay because of the bank holidays during the festive period. Life on Universal Credit at Christmas: I have to save sugar packets from cafes to put in my daughter’s stocking Payment…

Students who claim universal credit are being hit harder by reductions than people who are in work, according to the NUS. Under universal credit, for every £1 that someone earns through work, they will see 63p deducted from their monthly payments. However, for students, their loans and grants are treated…

The controversial Universal Credit benefit system is being rolled out across Edinburgh. Food-banks say they are preparing for increased demand, as those being moved to the new system can expect a five weeks wait for their first payment. An estimated 10,500 local council tenants are expected to be moved to…

Upper-tier Decision CUC-2385-2016 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a1e68d6ed915d6662f29354/CUC_2385_2016-00.pdf Summary 1. The principal issue on this appeal is whether a room must be capable of accommodating a bedside table and separate clothes storage furniture in order to be considered a bedroom for the purposes of housing benefit and universal credit under-occupancy legislation. This might seem…

Report by National Audit Office criticising DWP’s handling of its welfare reform strategy and lack of forethought on size of exercise…

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Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg has revealed the Coalition has instructed “independent” research into the impact of the bedroom tax (single room subsidy). It is believed the research has been initiated due to rising concern among senior Liberal Democrat figures about the policy’s implementation and the deep seated resentment this…

These regulations provide for, amongst other things: How and when to make a claim for UC; Effective date of claim; Time within which a claim needs to be completed; Evidence required to support a claim; Payment arrangements, including payment to Third Parties (APAs etc); Withdrawal of claim; How and when…

According to research by the Payments Council, benefits recipients throughout the UK believe they will not fully understand their payment options once the Universal Credit scheme is rolled out by the Department for Work and Pensions. The survey, which questioned 1,568 UK adult recipients between 28 August and 5 September,…