R(Christopher Jump) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (CO/1838/2014)
This is a judicial review challenge to the Government’s decision to cease grant funding for Local Welfare Assistance Schemes.
Currently your local authority can issue grants and loans to meet a crisis or to help you with independent living. Each local authority runs a different scheme. To check out the help in your area go to http://www.cpag.org.uk/lwas or the Chidren's Society website at http://tinyurl.com/qxekuww
The Government announced its intention to remove funding for these welfare assistance schemes in England.
Following intervention by Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) the Government has agreed to reconsider its decision to cease funding for local welfare provision. A Consent Order requires the DWP, DCLG and the Treasury to:
- Complete the ongoing review of local welfare provision;
- Conduct an “appropriate” consultation;
- Consider the impact on equality and discrimination; and
- Make a new decision on funding for local welfare provision for 2015/16.
The above steps must be completed by the time of the provisional local finance settlement (i.e. December 2014).
Alison Garnham, CPAG’s chief executive said:
“We welcome that the government has recognised the importance of local welfare assistance schemes and has committed to undertake a thorough review and consultation before deciding how the schemes will be funded in future.
Those who use these schemes are amongst the most vulnerable in society and the support they receive plays a key role in crisis prevention. Their needs must be the principal driver of government decision making.”