1. Home
  2. Welfare rights
  3. Concluded test cases

Concluded test cases

Test case

Maternity Allowance and Universal Credit

Moore and another v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2020] EWHC 2827 (Admin)
On 18 October 2019, CPAG issued judicial review proceedings challenging the treatment of maternity allowance (MA) as unearned income in the calculation of universal credit (UC) awards. A "rolled up" hearing of the case took place in the High Court on 24 - 25 June 2020, meaning that permission to apply for judicial review and the substantive case were considered at the same hearing. In a judgment handed down on 26 October 2020, the judge found that CPAG's case was arguable on two grounds, but ultimately found in favour of the Secretary of State. CPAG applied to the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal on behalf of the claimants. The permission application was considered at an oral hearing on 23 June 2021 and permission was refused. There is no further avenue of challenge in relation to this matter.
Maternity and Early Years Test case UK Universal credit Concluded
Test case

Universal Credit for 19 year olds in full-time, non-advanced education

MH v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (SC944/19/01408)
CPAG represented the appellant in a challenge to the universal credit (UC) rules that prevent certain 19 year olds who are in full-time, non-advanced education from being included in their parents’ UC claim, while they are also prevented from claiming UC in their own right, on the basis that the provisions are discriminatory and irrational. The appeal was heard by the First-tier Tribunal on 24th November 2020 and was dismissed.
Education Legal Students Test case UK Universal credit Concluded
Test case

Widowed Parent's Allowance where there has been a religious ceremony

This case concerned entitlement to widowed parent’s allowance (WPA) where the appellant and her partner had undergone a religious ceremony, several years before his death, and considered themselves to be, and held themselves out as being, legally married even though they weren't in fact married under English law. The First tier Tribunal found that the appellant had no entitlement to WPA because she did not meet the marriage requirement, and CPAG supported the appellant in appealing to the Upper Tribunal. Judgment was handed down on 26/05/20, dismissing the appeal. The Tribunal held that the grain of the legislation was that the benefit was only to be paid to a spouse or civil partner and to interpret it otherwise would be to cross the divide from the Tribunal's interpretive function and into policy matters that should be reserved for Parliament. For the judgment and advice for unmarried WPA claimants, read full article.
Test case UK Concluded
Test case

Refugees with pre-flight children and access to Sure Start Maternity Grant

Refugees with pre-flight children claiming Maternity Grant for first child in UK
Upper Tribunal decides refugees who arrived in the UK with children, can claim a Sure Start Maternity Grant when having their first child in the UK (as the contrary position results in unlawful discrimination).
Children’s benefits Sure Start Maternity Grant Refugees Test case UK Concluded
Test case

KH v Bury MBC and SSWP (HB) [2020] UKUT 50 (AAC)

Retention of "worker status" when worked for over a year - no test of whether has a genuine chance of being engaged
The Upper Tribunal held that when a worker has worked for over 12 months then they do not need to show a genuine chance of being engaged after 6 months of unemployment in order to retain worker status and the associated right to reside.
Test case UK Concluded
Test case

Universal credit and lone parents under 25

Rogers and others v SSWP CO/3678/2019: On 17 September 2019, CPAG filed a judicial review claim challenging the lower standard allowance in universal credit for lone parents who are under 25. Permission to apply for judicial review was refused at an oral permission hearing on 11/12/19. CPAG sought permission to appeal this decision in the Court of Appeal but permission was refused on 30 April 2021.
Test case UK Universal credit Concluded
Test case

Defective claims for universal credit and date of claim

Whether creating a universal credit account and clicking "Make a claim" is sufficient to count as a defective claim for universal credit?
Legal Test case UK Universal credit Concluded
Test case

Revised benefit cap

R (DS and Others) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2019] UKSC 21: This case concerned a judicial review challenging the revised, lower benefit cap, introduced in 2016. The appeal was brought on behalf of two single mothers who are affected by the cap due to their caring responsibilities. One of the claimants has children with significant health needs while the other has previously fled domestic violence. The appeal in this case was heard on 17-19 July 2018 by a 7 judge panel of the Supreme Court alongside that of R(DA and Others) v SSWP.  Judgment was given on 15 May 2019 finding that cap did not unlawfully discriminate against lone parents with children under 5 and their children. CPAG are now considering taking this matter to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. We are looking for new claimants for this next step of the challenge and would appreciate any suitable referrals via our test case pages of suitable families affected by the cap, particularly where there is no DHP in place. 
Test case UK Concluded
Test case

Widowed parents’ allowance and non-married couples

In August 2018, the Supreme Court handed down its judgment that denying bereavement benefits to unmarried, cohabiting partners with children is incompatible with human rights law. Separately, CPAG is representing a Muslim woman with two young children who was also denied WPA following the sudden death of her partner with whom she had been through an Islamic marriage ceremony and believed herself to be lawfully married.
Test case UK Concluded
Test case

Incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance and backdated payments

Disability benefits Test case UK Concluded