Caselaw summaries

Claimant considered ‘unreliable’ witness by tribunal – no error in tribunal’s approach – no need for authority on approach taken in criminal case of R v Lucas

Tax credits – bar on making a new claim where universal credit (UC) could be claimed instead

Bereavement support payment – discrimination regarding disabled person unable to make national insurance (NI) contributions

Universal credit (UC) - ‘backdating’ of UC – request for backdating not required to be made before initial decision

Housing benefit (HB) - childcare costs – where childcare ceased but liability for costs continued during COVID ‘lockdown’

Right to reside – self-sufficient with comprehensive sickness insurance

Universal credit (UC) - claims – national insurance number requirement not satisfied until evidence is verified and number allocated

Reasons – where there has been a change of medical opinion – tribunal’s ability to rely on its own expertise

Amendments made by the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (SI No.194) regarding Activity 3 (Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition), in an attempt to reverse effect of the decision of the Upper Tribunal in SSWP v LB (PIP) [2016] UKUT 0530 (AAC) – not unlawful

Housing benefit (HB) - right to reside – derivative right to reside – not removed by ‘unexhausted’ right to reside as a jobseeker