Caselaw summaries

Housing benefit (HB) - ‘contrived’ tenancies

Universal credit – date of claim – claimant telephoned the DWP’s UC Helpline in order to claim, but was wrongly told he had to wait three months

UC and immigration status after deportation action

Universal credit (UC) – capital disregards – property – ‘taking steps to obtain possession’

Tribunals – use of Google Maps evidence by tribunal

Universal credit (UC) – entitlement during three-month relevant period before LCWRA element included – minimum entitlement applied and therefore was entitled to passported benefits

Universal credit (UC) – housing element – liability for rent – claimant a joint owner and an agreement to pay money to a tenant-in-common does not establish liability

Claims – bereavement support payment – claimant refused having claimed too late (four years after death of her husband)

Tribunals – personal independence payment – where a tribunal makes an award for a fixed period, then the tribunal should also explain why the award is for such a fixed period

Universal credit (UC) – childcare costs element – two sets of childcare charges paid in same assessment period – maximum applies for that period