The Benefits Cap and Real Income Levels

by on February 7, 2014

Many commentators have pointed out the misleading justifications often made for the introduction of the benefits cap. The government has said that it is unfair that people dependant on benefits should receive more than those in work at the average wage. This message ignores the fact that most workers earning the average wage will still […]

Upper Tribunal define ‘Bedroom’

by on January 24, 2014

I understand that the UT has set down in CH/140/2013 (a LHA case) that a “bedroom” has a plain dictionary meaning…a room for sleeping / a room with a bed in it. “19. The word “bedroom” is not defined in the legislation. It is an ordinary English word and should be construed as such. According […]

No Housing Benefit for unemployed EU migrants from April – simple? … and what about the ‘lobster pot’?

by on January 20, 2014

The announcement by the government in the Daily Mail here (didn’t there use to be Parliament and Hansard?) talks only about JSA and Housing Benefit.  This proposal will, presumably, need to be carried into Universal Credit as well.  That should help with the increasing simplicity of the scheme.  There are a few questions about the […]

Sneaky, Sneaky, Sneaky.

by on January 14, 2014

Firstly, apologies for the long delays in posting things here.  It’s being a busy time, as you’d expect around welfare reform.  I’ve been particularly busy updating our Future Benefits Model (FFBM) with the April 2014 benefit rates and rules and getting the known changes and indexations for the next five years plugged in.  Now done […]