Ongoing News

Official Personal Independence Payments(PIP) Statistics tell us there has been a worrying decline in initial claims for benefit and also in challenges to decisions- 

Other guidance gives advice on these payments affect JSA/ESA. Memo ADM 8/20

'Impact on JSA-

The government has issued guidance on how the furlough scheme and self employment equivalent are treated as income for Universal Credit Memo ADM 10/20 and

From 1/8/2020, the government has announced its intention to remove SSP for those who have been told to shield because they are 'clinically extremely vulnerable'.

How many claimants are there on UC? (govt. Stats up to 14/5/2020)

There was a large rise from April to May 2020- numbers on UC rose from 4.2million to 5.2 million.

Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme (CJRS)-

This scheme has been extended to October 2020, however there are going to be some changes to the rules and the amount of funding that will be available.

Self employed people expecting a SEISS taxable grant will have their UC affected when it is paid. Should they reclaim the following assessment period to remove surplus earnings?

Government statistics tell us that the there continues to be unprecedented numbers(x6) of Universal Credit claims. Table 2: Number of households making a Universal Credit declaration Totals by time period, 1 March 2020 - 19 May 

2020 

The Government say re PIP awards due to end- 'There was an issue for those on fixed-term, short awards, but we have now addressed that, and those claimants will continue to get an automatic six months’ extension if it

There is a New FP10 NHS prescription form, which includes a tick box for UC claimants who meet the criteria for free prescriptions. 

The government has indicated-

The government has said- '...DWP took the decision to temporarily suspend both the requirement to attend a face to face appointments and to conduct checks on conditionality compliance with work search for 3 months from 19th March 2020.

The government has said- 'Universal Credit claimants can now access British Sign Language interpreters as part of a free video relay service...DWP staff won’t see the caller or the interpreter; but will receive a phone call from the interpreter who will translate into BSL.

ESA(c) new style can now be claimed online. Click here.

Book Now for our COVID-19 Benefit Updater 2020 online course.

Self Employed Income Support Scheme(SEISS)- The government has confirmed-

From4/5/2020, the government will begin contacting possible eligible clients.