Press release

Child Poverty Action Group is dismayed that today’s Spring Statement has not brought an end to the freeze on working age benefits, despite cross-party calls for the policy to stop.

Two disabled people who moved to the UK from other EU countries have won an important Appeal Court case which entitles them to disability-related benefits in the UK from shortly after they arrived rather than having to wait two years. The case, brought by Child Poverty Action Group and Harrow Law Centre, will enable disabled EU citizens and their carers who have a “genuine and sufficient” connection to the UK to receive social security support at an earlier point if they relocate to the UK.

Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is seeking leave to appeal direct to the Court of Appeal on behalf of two disabled households who were left worse off after they were forced to move to universal credit (UC) because their existing benefits were wrongly stopped by the DWP. The move follows a High Court decision today which rejected a claim of unlawful discrimination brought by the two households and refused permission to appeal.

Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and homeless charity Shelter are supporting a Supreme Court case today on behalf of a lone mother who was treated as intentionally homeless because she didn’t use her non-housing benefits that are intended to cover other living costs to cover the £35 weekly gap between her housing benefit and her rent.

Two households affected by disability who were left worse off after they were forced to move to universal credit (UC) from existing benefits following incorrect decisions by DWP will challenge DWP policy in the High Court this week (Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th January).

In a test case victory for a group of working lone mothers, the High Court found today that the way the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been assessing income from employment through its Universal Credit (UC) work assessment periods is unlawful.

Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is continuing its legal challenge to the two-child limit for universal credit and tax credit payments in the Court of Appeal on Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th December.