Huge change to Universal Credit rules that means benefits WON'T be stopped over cash mistake
Claimants who have received compensation after a criminal conviction is reversed will no longer be ineligible for some means-tested benefits.
1
Means-tested benefits are issued dependent on your income and capital - the value of any savings, investments and property you hold.
Previously, compensation payments issued after wrongful convictions counted as income and capital for people on six means-tested benefits.
This meant they were no longer eligible for payments and missed out on vital support.
However, since yesterday and moving forwards, this rule has now ben scrapped.
Sir Stephen Timms MP, minister for social security and disability, said: "Rebuilding trust in our systems begins by restoring trust with those the system has failed.
"We can't return the years lost by miscarriage of justice victims — but we can, and must, ensure they have every opportunity to restart their lives so they can make the most of the years ahead."
It comes after the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) boosted the maximum amount miscarriage of justice victims in England and Wales can receive to £1.3million from £1million - a 30% rise.
Alex Davies-Jones, minister for victims and violence against women and girls, added: "Miscarriages of justice steal irreplaceable time and devastate lives.
"Better benefit support combined with the uplift of the compensation cap will make a real difference, providing not just financial redress but rightfully deserved recognition to individuals affected."
Who is affected?
The new rule applies to those on six means-tested benefits in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The full list is:
income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income Support
Housing Benefit
Pension Credit
Universal Credit
Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence
Any compensation payments issued to claimants on these benefits under The Miscarriage of Justice Compensation Scheme will no longer be classed as capital or savings.
A miscarriage of justice compensation payment is issued when someone has been convicted of a criminal offence and:
had their conviction reversed
a new or newly discovered fact shows beyond reasonable doubt that there has been a miscarriage of justice
If you are currently on one of the six benefits and have previously received a miscarriage of justice compensation payment, you need to report a change of circumstances to the department who pays that benefit.
Your change of circumstances should explain you've previously received compensation and that this is no longer classed as capital.
The department responsible for paying the benefit will then consider whether you are receiving the correct amount.
You will need to provide a copy of your compensation award notification.
How to claim a miscarriage of justice payment
The maximum amount of compensation issued to a miscarriage of justice victim who has been wrongfully imprisoned for up to 10 years is £650,000.
For those who were sentenced to 10 or more years, the maximum amount is £1.3million.
Both these maximum amounts were increased by 30% earlier this month, from £500,000 and £1million, respectively.
You can apply for compensation if your conviction has been overturned by the courts and any of the following apply:
your appeal was successful and it was submitted 28 days or more after your conviction in the Crown Court, or 21 days or more after sentencing for a conviction in a magistrate's court
your conviction was overturned after it was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)
you've been granted a free (unconditional) pardon
You can find out more about applying for compensation payments via www.gov.uk/claim-compensation-for-miscarriage-of-justice.
MOJ data published in March revealed 591 applications for compensation due to a miscarriage of justice were received between April 2016 and March 2024.
Of these, 39 were approved and 35 payments were made totalling £2,380,700.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data.
You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
Buntingford memorial unveiled to 'valiant' police dog Finn
A bronze statue has been unveiled to honour the memory of a police dog who saved his handler's shepherd Finn suffered near-fatal injuries in 2016 when he confronted an armed suspect in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, while protecting his handler, PC Dave Wardell - now retired - was stabbed, but maintained that without Police Dog Finn's intervention, he could have been more seriously wounded.A Thin Blue Paw Foundation fundraising campaign raised £40,000 in 72 hours to pay for his statue. It was unveiled in Buntingford, Hertfordshire, on Sunday. "It was incredibly humbling when I found out that the foundation wanted to create a memorial in his honour and I was absolutely staggered by the response that the fundraiser had from the public," said Mr Wardell. "It goes to show how many people were touched by Finn's story."When his attacker was only charged with criminal damage, Mr Wardell campaigned for Finn's Law, calling for legal protection for service legislation was passed in 2019, as the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) BillFinn recovered from his injuries and continued working briefly, before he retired. He died in 2023 at the age of 14 and the memorial was unveiled on the second anniversary of his death. Thin Blue Paw chairman Kieran Stanbridge said Finn captured "the hearts of the nation".The charity rehabilitates, protects and celebrates both serving and retired police police dogs do not receive financial support from the force they served with meaning their ex-handler or new owner has responsibility for their care and vet bills. "Finn was one of the most decorated police dogs in our history and not only served his community valiantly and loyally during his career, but put his life on the line to save Dave during a violent and dangerous incident," Mr Stanbridge said. "We felt he needed to be remembered and honoured appropriately and we're proud to have raised the funds to pay for this beautiful memorial in his memory. "We also hope it will become a place of reflection and dedication for all police dogs, both past and present."The 80kg (176lb) sculpture of Finn was created by specialist animal sculptor Suzie Marsh and took 11 months to create. "I was delighted and honoured to be chosen for this project and feel the result is a fitting memorial to a well-loved, brave and special dog," she said. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
Man jailed over Ormskirk murder after 18 months on the run
A man who fatally stabbed a teenager, then went on the run for 18 months, has been jailed for at least 23 Daulby, 19, from Liverpool, was knifed in the chest after two groups clashed outside a bar in Ormskirk, Lancashire, on 29 July Dures, 21, who eventually handed himself in at a police station in Greece, was found guilty of wounding with intent, following a trial at Preston Crown comes after another man, Henry Houghton, of Scarisbrick, was jailed last year for a minimum of 20 years for his role in Mr Daulby's murder. Mr Daulby was found with serious injuries by police, who were called to Railway Road shortly after midnight on 29 July 2023 after reports of a fight, Lancashire Police said. The victim was taken to hospital where he later died. A post-mortem examination found he was killed by a single stab wound to the to the fight, CCTV footage played to the jury during the trial showed Dures and Houghton lurking in an alleyway. Shortly afterwards, Dures is seen striding towards a group, including Mr Daulby, brandishing a opened up the blade as he charged towards them, closely followed by Houghton, swinging a makeshift weapon comprising a tied-up sock containing a struck Mr Daulby with such force that it caused damage to his brain and likely disorientated him, Lancashire Police said. It was while he was in this confused state that Dures fatally stabbed Mr Daulby in the chest, the force stated. Dures also stabbed two other men during the altercation, before fleeing the scene after hearing the sirens of an approaching police footage showed Dures then made a loop of Ormskirk town centre, discarding his jacket on a park bench in Triangle subsequently dumped the knife in a narrow passageway near Ormskirk Parish Church, police saidThe jacket was later found by a dog walker, and the knife by an estate agent. Both items were handed into the of no fixed address but formerly of Whalley Drive, Aughton, sent voice notes to his friends before leaving the area in a then went on the run for 18 months, before handing himself in at a police station in Greece. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
Swinney calls for legal referendum if SNP secures majority at Holyrood election
First Minister John Swinney has called for a 'legal referendum recognised by all' on Scottish independence if the SNP secures a majority at the Holyrood elections. Writing in a column in the Daily Record, Mr Swinney said that in the 17 years since the 2008 financial crash 'people feel like they are working harder than ever, but not seeing any improvement in their living standards'. He said the UK economy is 'fundamentally failing to deliver for ordinary people' as well as generating insufficient funding for public services. The SNP leader called for the May 2026 Holyrood elections to be 'a springboard for Scotland taking charge of our own destiny'. He said the situation had got worse since the 2014 referendum, and wrote: 'Think what could have been achieved had we not been forced to spend so much time and money trying to mitigate the ongoing damage of Brexit. 'Or the carnage unleashed by Liz Truss's mini-budget. Or the years of austerity, or Westminster cuts like the Winter Fuel Payment. 'We were told we didn't need independence and we just needed a Labour government – but look how that has turned out.' He wrote that 'independence is the catalyst that will deliver a better future for us all' and that 'with Scotland's energy resources in Scotland's hands, we can reduce bills for consumers and cut costs for businesses'. Mr Swinney revealed he hoped to deliver an SNP majority similar to 2011 in a bid to 'secure a legal referendum recognised by all' and had submitted a motion to the SNP conference proposing that 'we work to deliver a majority of SNP MSPs in the Scottish Parliament to secure that referendum'. He pledged to unveil 'radical policies that we know will transform Scotland' in the coming months, and to 'break the logjam and end this frustration that we all feel'. Mr Swinney added: 'We must be ready to follow the path which we know can lead us to an independent state.' Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: 'John Swinney is like a broken record. In a bid to silence internal critics of his weak leadership, he has thrown diehard nationalists some more red meat on the one issue they all agree on: independence. 'Ordinary Scots are sick and tired of the SNP's obsession with breaking up the UK. 'The public want John Swinney to focus on fixing the damage his government has done in decimating essential services such as schools and the NHS at the same time as making Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK.'
