R (Pantellerisco and others) v SSWP [2020] EWHC 1944 (Admin); R (Pantellerisco and others) v SSWP [2021] EWCA Civ 1454
On 12 September 2019, CPAG issued judicial review proceedings on behalf of a single parent and her children challenging the application of the benefit cap to the mother’s universal credit award. The cap is applied to the mother despite the fact that she works 16 hours per week at national living wage, simply because she is paid 4 weekly rather than monthly. Permission to apply for judicial review was granted on 5 December 2019 and the case was heard on 12 May 2020. Judgment was given on 20 July 2020 with the court finding in the claimants' favour. The SSWP appealed to the Court of Appeal and judgment was given on 8 October 2021, allowing the SSWP's appeal. Ms Pantellerisco applied for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court on 1/12/21 and this was refused by order dated 04/08/22.
R (on the application of) DK v The Commissioners for her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Interested Party) [2021] EWHC 1845 (Admin); [2022] EWCA Civ 120
Current status: The High Court heard the case on 16 June 2021 and handed down judgment in favour of the claimant on 5 July 2021. HMRC appealed to the Court of Appeal and a hearing took place on 25 January 2022. The Court of Appeal dismissed HMRC's appeal and judgment was handed down on 8 February 2022 ([2022] EWCA Civ 120).
R (Johnson, Woods, Barrett & Stewart) v SSWP [2019] EWHC 23 (Admin); SSWP v Johnson, Woods, Barrett & Stewart [2020] EWCA Civ 778
This case successfully challenged the rigidity of the monthly assessment period regime under universal credit (UC) and the way that earned income is calculated for certain claimants. The case concerned four single working mothers whose regular monthly pay dates for their wages fell close to the start/end of their assessment periods, resulting in them sometimes having two paydays in one assessment period. This issue caused them to experience fluctuations of their income and significant cash losses.