Millions of benefit claimants are expected to miss out on £720 backdated payments. It comes after a court ruling this week, upholding the ruling that government won't be required to backdate payments for people on legacy benefits.
The decision follows four benefit claimants who took the DWP to High Court in November 2021. They argued it was "unfair" to exclude legacy benefit claimants, including Employment Support Allowance and Jobseekers’ Allowance, from the £20 Universal Credit uplift during the coronavirus pandemic.
LancsLive reports nearly two million people on legacy benefits did not receive the payments. They were allowed to appeal the decision, however, the High Court upheld the ruling and the Government won't be required to backdate payments for people on legacy benefits.
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A DWP spokesperson said: "We welcome the Court of Appeal’s findings in our favour. It has always been the case that claimants on legacy benefits can make a claim for Universal Credit if they believe they will be better off."
Universal Credit was introduced in the Welfare Reform Act 2012 to bring six benefits under one scheme. The DWP is currently in the process of moving more than two million people from legacy benefits to Universal Credit and hopes to complete this by the end of 2024.
Although legacy benefit claimants will be disappointed, there are 23 freebie benefits claimants could apply for this month, the Express reports.
- Reduced council tax bills
- Capped water bills
- Half price bus
- Discounted rail fares
- Free or discounted gym membership
- Help with new job costs
- Warm Home Discount Scheme of £140 off fuel bills
- £25 in Cold Weather Payments
- Free or cheap broadband from TalkTalk, Virgin Media and BT
- Cheap BT phone calls
- Free prescriptions for people with zero income or those on a low income
- Free dental treatment
- Eye tests and discounted glasses
- Free school transport
- Free school meals
- Discounted childcare costs
- £150 towards school uniforms - dependent on the local authority
- £1,200 free cash as part of the Government’s Help to Save scheme
- Food vouchers for kids as part of the Healthy Start scheme
- Maternity grant up to £1,000
- Disabled Facilities Grant (up to £30,000) to make changes to a home
- Homeowners can apply for up to £10,000 to pay for a boiler
- Homeowners can get help to pay for double glazing as part of the Green Homes Scheme.
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