Tools and templates

Use this template to challenge the absence of any 'protection on a death' for a bereaved ESA claimant who was exempt from the bedroom tax while their severely disabled partner, who was the lead ESA claimant was alive, and has had to claim universal credit (UC) as a result of their bereavement.

Use this template to challenge DWP's refusal to process, or failure to decide within a reasonable time, your client's mandatory reconsideration made by telephone.

Use this template to challenge a failure of the DWP to exempt a refugee, or person with humanitarian or other analogous status, from the habitual residence test for universal credit (UC), and consequent refusal of or delay in deciding entitlement.

Use this template to challenge the failure of the DWP to offer, or DWP's refusal of, an advance payment to a claimant who is a newly recognised refugee (or other analogous status) who has made a new claim for universal credit (UC) and has no other income.

Use this template to challenge a local authority's unlawful insistence on paying housing benefit 2- or 4-weekly when your client's rent is calendar monthly and their landlord will not accept the apparent monthly shortfall.

Use this template to challenge the refusal of the DWP to include 100% of the rent in the calculation of your client's universal credit (UC) housing costs element because your client has a joint tenancy, but the joint tenant has left and your client has notified the DWP of this ('untidy tenancy').

Use this template to challenge DWP's refusal to amend a full time carer's universal credit (UC) conditionality and consequent refusal of entitlement because the claimant has not accepted a claimant commitment which included work-related activity.

Use this template to challenge the DWP's refusal to amend a claimant commitment to reduce work search and availability requirements because the claimant is responsible for a child aged 13+ years who has a physical or mental impairment, and to challenge any unlawful sanctions imposed as a result of inappropriate conditionality.

Use this template to challenge the absence of 'protection on a death' for a new universal credit (UC) claimant who was previously receiving income support as a carer and was exempt from the benefit cap, but has had to make a new claim for UC due to the death of the person they cared for and has been immediately subjected to the benefit cap.

Use this template to challenge the DWP's decision to deduct more than 25% of a claimant's universal credit (UC) standard allowance when multiple deductions are taken at the same time.

Use this template to challenge the DWP's refusal to reduce rent arrears deductions to less than 15% of the standard allowance.

Use this template if your client is an EU national with pre-settled status to whom SSWP v AT applies, if the DWP argues that SSWP v AT does not apply because your client does not come within article 10 of the Withdrawal Agreement (due to not having an EU law right of residence on 31 December 2020).