Universal Credit Group Action

androgynous

First of all, to clarify, I do not work for Leigh Day.

If you have been affected or know a service user, care for, have a member of your family, friend or anyone you know 'naturally' migrated to Universal Credit from 'Legacy Benefits' before the 16th January 2019, please have a good look through the links below. 'Naturally' migrating was a change of circumstances such as moving home into a local authority area which was an Universal Credit area, whilst still receiving Legacy Benefits. Significantly, those claimants with a need to claim Housing Benefit and therefore UC. Those claimants had previously claimed a benefit with an additional award of the severe disability premium.
The SDP Gateway came into force on 16 January 2019.

Following recent legal challenges to Universal Credit, Leigh Day are bringing compensation claims for people who have migrated to Universal Credit, prior to 16th January 2019, and have lost their severe disability premium. Also, the Enhanced Disability Premium (otherwise known as the ‘Disability Income Guarantee’) is not covered by the Department’s plans.

Note - If you have received a backdated payment then you will be eligible to join the claim for further compensation.

It's estimated 13,000 severely disabled claimants were affected.

Contact details are provided in the links below.

5. Who can bring a claim?

We would like to hear from anyone who made a claim for Universal Credit, before 16th January 2019, and had previously claimed a benefit with an additional award of severe disability premium. If you claimed the following ‘legacy’ benefits you may have also been in receipt of severe disability premium:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance [‘JSA’]
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance [‘ESA’]

6. How do I know if I was receiving severe disability premium?

A legacy benefit award letter will indicate this on the page showing the breakdown of your benefit entitlement. If the letter states that you receive:

• Extra money because you are severely disabled’ then you were receiving severe disability premium.
• For 2018/19 this was set at a rate of £64.30 per week for single people and £128.60 for couples
• For 2019/20 this was set at a rate of £65.85 per week for single people and £131.70 for couples

https://www.leighday.co.uk/News/2019/May-2019/Fight-for-compensation-launched-for-people-with-di 
          
https://www.leighday.co.uk/Employment-discrimination/Current-cases/Universal-Credit-group-action

https://www.leighday.co.uk/Employment-discrimination/Current-cases/Universal-Credit-group-action/Universal-Credit-group-action-FAQs


The more claimants there are, the stronger the claim will be, so if you know of anyone who has been impacted by the loss of the Severe Disability Premium, please do get in touch with Leigh Day.

Good hunting!

androgynous

Adrian_Scope

Thanks for sharing this @androgynous. I've moved it over to our Universal Credit section of the community where it'll be more relevant and hopefully reach the target group. 

androgynous

Adrian_Scope said:

Thanks for sharing this @androgynous. I've moved it over to our Universal Credit section of the community where it'll be more relevant and hopefully reach the target group. 

Thanks Adrian.

I think i forgot to mention the SDP in the title! 

I've also been in touch with my solicitor and the Universal Credit rent shortfall is something they will definitely pass over to their human rights team. 

Unfortunately, these things take time and alot of it. My first case is only now with my Barrister and about ready to finally start court proceedings.

In the meantime, I'm wrestling with what i can of my DHP form until i can get some support.

It makes me wonder if it's worth it for one weeks rent?

But in the longer term, legal action is worth it for the good of thousands of Universal Credit claimants?

Another year, another battle.