Tom Royston

For future posts see tomroyston.bsky.social

Judgment and summary here: gcnchambers.co.uk/universal-cred…

R (Roberts) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] EWHC 51 (Admin) (16 January 2025): High Court (Fordham J) decides that the Government’s system of making deductions from benefit claimants’ Universal Credit for rent is unlawful.

That second point seems to me to be particularly important as and when DWP reconsult on WCA reforms. Just magically hoping that threatening more sanctions and cutting more incomes will lead to people finding suitable work is not good enough.

As well as the Court finding the 'cuts' motive was not adequately disclosed to consultees, the judgment provides striking evidence about how limited the internal DWP work had been on how its plans would actually lead to disabled people finding work. See eg §120 (screenshot)

R (Clifford) v SSWP [2025] EWHC (Admin) decides today that the 2023 WCA consultation, run by the Department for Work and Pensions, was unlawful.

The EU Rights and Brexit Hub (EURBH) is a nationwide, legal action research hub led by Professor Charlotte O’Brien, which aims to support EU nationals in the UK following Brexit. She is a 2024 #ImpactPrize finalist!🎉 More: youtu.be/EaYpCmVPNy8 📽️

I recall that the argument that Housing Act 1988 would end up as a massive state subsidy to private landlords was dismissed

Universal Credit claimant £50,000 better off after successful ‘capital limits’ appeal by Garden Court North's @amccollpg. Alex was instructed by @FarleysLaw. Read more at: gcnchambers.co.uk/universal-cred…

@AmesTaylor_DA @RBraadshaaw @GMWRAGtweets I *very* nearly became an employment lawyer because the CAB employment courses had free sandwiches and the benefits ones didn’t. So I strongly endorse pastries for welfare rights workers

@RBraadshaaw @GMWRAGtweets The pastries is me Ryan. It's me what's gone soft and lost touch. It's me age what's done it.

@MarkySaysThis They could do that by rolling payments into PC. Cliff-edge passporting has some rationale for things that only a limited proportion of claimants will receive, especially when it's a non-cash benefit (e.g. free school meals) but it strikes me as harder to justify here.

@tdroyston Would you taper?

This is a cliff-edge approach, like the earnings limit for carer's allowance: a person with income slightly above the limit becomes worse off than a person whose income is lower.

@albar11111 @ProfJBradshaw @CPAGUK Some would just be capped instead, but there are a lot of cap exemptions (earnings, disability, care), and not everyone would be capped, esp people in cheaper areas or with no housing costs. Also cap exposure period usually shorter, more amenable to discretionary relief

@ProfJBradshaw @CPAGUK But would abolishing the 2 child limit be any help for many families while the total benefit cap continues? Won’t many/most simply have their UC housing costs element reduced by the extra amount for the 3rd child?

This free birthday Welfare Rights Bulletin has two REALLY useful articles for anyone doing welfare rights advice: (p9) how to use judicial review pre action letters effectively, to sort out clients’ problems; (p4) how to spot potential ‘test cases’, and what to do when you have!

@LegalActionGrp @CivilLitTweet @nearlylegal @spikemullings big audience for a niche event on Texan law, but they are excellent speakers

@CivilLitTweet is back for his second session on ‘how to do personal injury in Houston litigation.’ He’s joined by the brilliant Giles Peaker @nearlylegal, author of LAG’s Housing Conditions book. Thanks to @spikemullings for chairing 👏

@marieajparis, Chloe Hayes @SocialImpactBPP and @jamiejohn39 delivered a great session advising young lawyers on how to develop their housing practice. Thanks to @jo_under_wood for chairing! Great to have so many future housing lawyers in the room 👍 @YLALawyers @HLPA_Junior

We are delighted to update you on two major successes achieved in court, bringing us a step closer to ensuring all EU citizens and family members have access to welfare and housing 🧵 the3million.org.uk/news/2024-05-2…

The @DWPgovuk is demanding that over a hundred thousand carers repay more than a quarter of a billion pounds in carers allowance it says was overpaid. What are their legal rights? With @bbcdanw and barrister @tdroyston of @gcnchambers on @Moneybox noon @BBCRadio4

etc

… and the 2016 review of pip descriptors assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80ca37…

'This is a benefit that has not been reviewed for over a decade'