PA Pool hopes there is light at the end of the tunnel after a high court ruling led to a campaign for compensation for disabled people who have been financially disadvantaged by Universal Credit.
The original case was brought by two disabled men, who took the Department for Work and Pension (DWP) to court after they were transferred to Universal Credit from their original severe disability premium (SDP) and enhanced disability premium (EDP) payments (designed to meet the costs of living alone without a carer), leaving them £178 a month worse off.
The final ruling, following five years of legal wrangling, saw the court of appeal block an attempt by the DWP to overturn a high court ruling (made a year ago) which decided that the men had been unlawfully discriminated against because the DWP refused to repay their losses in full.
The men’s lawyers have written to the government, asking how the men – and other disabled people who have suffered similar financial loss – will be compensated.
With tens of thousands of disabled people in similar situations, having been moved to Universal Credit from disability benefits, it is estimated that compensation could cost around £150m.
We will be watching the case with interest.
You can read the full story at
www.theguardian.com/society/2023/feb/03/disabled-people-left-short-in-universal-credit-move-may-get-compensation.