This is important.
by Paddy McGuffin.
Shameless Department for Work and Pensions ministers admitted today they were considering new legislation to avoid paying out over its unlawful workfare scheme.
A Court of Appeal ruling last month found that the schemes – requiring claimants to do unpaid work experience or lose benefits – were unlawful due to the way the regulations were framed.More here.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith insisted at the time that he had “no intention” of repaying benefits to anyone who lost out and he launched an appeal to the Supreme Court seeking to have the ruling overturned.
New regulations were set on the day of the court ruling to ensure that the DWP can continue threatening claimant’s benefits to coerce them to take part in schemes.
But the department confirmed it was considering its options in the case of defeat at the Supreme Court. It is believed defeat could prompt action from tens of thousands of claimants who have had their benefits docked, seeking millions of pounds in repayments.
