News

Major Improvements to Carer Benefits Launching on 15 March 2026

News, Scottish Government /

Significant changes to Scotland’s carer benefits system will come into force on 15 March 2026, bringing more flexible, regular, and fair support for carers across the country. These changes follow the successful national rollout of Carer Support Payment (CSP) and the safe transfer of around 118,000 carers from Carer’s Allowance to the new Scottish system. […]

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2026 Up‑rating Order: Key Increases to Social Security Benefits

Guidance, News /

Summary: Social Security Benefits Up‑rating Order 2026 (SI 2026/148) The Social Security Benefits Up‑rating Order 2026 is a statutory instrument laid before Parliament on 12 January 2026. It updates the rates of a wide range of social security benefits, pensions, and statutory payments for the 2026–27 financial year. What the Order Does The Order provides

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A System at Breaking Point: The Truth About WCA Delays

News, Universal Credit /

Work Capability Assessment Backlogs Highlighted in Westminster Hall Debate A Westminster Hall debate on 4 March 2026 brought renewed attention to the significant delays affecting people awaiting Work Capability Assessments (WCAs), particularly those seeking reassessments rather than first-time decisions. The discussion was led by Wendy Chamberlain, MP for North East Fife, who pressed the UK

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UT Flags Major Errors in Right‑to‑Reside Assessment

Caselaw, News, Universal Credit /

Summary of the Decision Case: AR v SSWP (UC)Upper Tribunal Appeal Nos.: UA‑2025‑001172‑USTA & UA‑2025‑001189‑USTADecision: Appeal allowed; First‑tier Tribunal (FTT) decisions set asideNext step: Matter remitted to a new FTT for a full oral hearing Why the Upper Tribunal Allowed the Appeal The Upper Tribunal (UT) found material errors of law in the FTT’s handling

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UT Says Yes to Double Childcare Payments—What Advisers Need to Know

Caselaw, News, Universal Credit /

Adviser Summary – [2026] UKUT 58 (AAC) Judge: WikeleyDecision date: 5 February 2026Issue: Universal Credit – Childcare Costs Element (CCE)Case reference: UA‑2025‑000643‑UCC What the case was about The appeal dealt with how entitlement to the childcare costs element should be assessed when a claimant makes two childcare payments in the same Assessment Period (AP). The

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No Recourse North East multimedia bulletin

Local, News /

Topics range from The Royal Society‘s comparative analysis of British immigration costs to ACH‘s call for greater ESOL funding, and a discussion by academics at the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Public Policy, emphasising the need for Legal Aid reform in Scotland. Link here: https://nrnepartnership.org/2026/02/26/nrnes-multimedia-bulletin-march-2026/  If you have any suggestions, need clarification, or are having trouble accessing

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Pushed into the wrong job?

News, Reports /

Assessing the link between conditionality and poor quality employment By Max Mosley, Tom Stephens 10 February 2026 Successive central governments have designed benefit programmes with high levels of conditionality. The programmes have required claimants to actively look for work, in order to keep accessing social security. While some level of conditionality is not unusual compared to other

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What’s Going On With DWP’s New Bank‑Account Check Powers?

News, Universal Credit /

The UK Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised concerns about new powers the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) now has. These powers relate to checking people’s bank accounts to help tackle benefit fraud and errors. Here’s what clients need to know. 1. What Powers Does DWP Now Have? Since December, the DWP can:

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