Early Warning System eBulletin - December 2022

The Early Warning System collects case examples from welfare rights advisers. We use this evidence for campaigns, in discussions with government, and in advice resources.

A huge thank you to everyone who has contacted us in 2022.

Here is just some of the work that your evidence has supported this year:

In January, your case studies informed CPAG's oral evidence about childcare costs to MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee.

In February, we shared a list of your case studies on misguided moves to UC (including cases where people had been wrongly told that they must claim) with senior DWP civil servants.

In March, we sent feedback to the DWP on planned updates to its PIP decision letter templates. Your PIP case studies were invaluable.

In April, we offered topic-based lists of case studies to CPAG's Handbook writers and trainers to inform their work. We also published a briefing for the DWP and parliamentarians about underpaid carer elements of UC.

In May, we shared cases with our legal team where claimants getting two monthly pay packets in one UC assessment period were experiencing issues despite CPAG's successful Johnson test case. We also produced a briefing about the low number of indefinite awards of PIP, featuring a list of your case studies.

In June, your case studies appeared in CPAG's briefing about the re-verification of UC claims which drew attention from the National Audit Office among others.

In July, a briefing about the recovery of UC overpayments and list of examples from the Early Warning System prompted a parliamentary debate. In the same month, we published another briefing on DWP debt recovery from grieving families, and CPAG set out your case studies relating to the DWP Risk Review Team in a submission to the House of Commons' Public Accounts Committee.

In August, we shared with the DWP a long list of your case studies about inappropriate requirements for face-to-face Jobcentre appointments.

In September, we sent feedback to the DWP about UC overpayment notifications and about the PIP award review (AR1) form. Your case studies gave us plenty to say. We also published a briefing on the fact that students can't get a carer element, even if they can claim the rest of UC.

In October, we provided case studies to a DWP research team looking at the problem of underpaid UC carer elements. This work followed our April briefing on the same topic. We also published a briefing for the DWP and parliamentarians about non-digital claims for UC and the people who need them, featuring a list of your case studies.

In November, CPAG's UC Digitalisation project gave a presentation to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on UC, drawing on your case studies about the real-time information (RTI) system.

In December, CPAG plans to use your case studies to highlight the impact of the benefit cap on families with young children.

Thank you again. Please stay in touch in 2023.

Do you have something to tell us?

This month, CPAG is launching a new project on managed migration to UC.

Please get in touch if you have a client who is affected (ie, who has had a letter telling them that their legacy benefit is stopping and that they need to claim UC). Tell us about your cases by completing an online form or emailing the Early Warning System. You can also read CPAG's latest blog about managed migration.

If you know an individual who would like to contact us directly about their own case, please let them know about our contact form for non-advisers.