Desmond Rutledge

Year of Call: 2001

"Desmond is extremely accessible and dedicated to ensuring that the client is fully engaged."

Legal 500, 2024

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Desmond’s main area of expertise is in welfare benefits, which is rooted in his work an advice worker before he came to the Bar. He provides representation to claimants before tribunals and the higher courts.

Desmond is also a member of the housing team, with special interest in homelessness and defending possession proceedings. His practice includes challenging negative homelessness decisions involving issues relating to suitability, intentionally, non-priority or ineligibility based on immigration status. Desmond also covers rights of succession cases.

Desmond is ranked for community care in the Legal 500, 2024.

Welfare Benefits Law

Overview

Desmond has an in-depth knowledge of social security law and is instructed in appeals to the Upper Tribunal and the higher courts, as well as in public law challenges against the DWP by way of judicial review in the High Court.

Notable Cases

Commissioners for His Majesty's Revenue and Customs v Arrbab [2024] EWCA Civ 16
Tax Credits - Whether statutory instrument ultra vires insofar as making HMRC the effective gatekeeper of an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.

HM v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (BB); MK v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (BB) [2023] UKUT 15 (AAC)
Bereavement payment/allowance – Whether the requirement that a person who, with no eligible children, makes a claim for bereavement payment and/or for bereavement allowance must have been married or in a civil partnership to be eligible, is a breach of Article 14 ECHR as it impacts more on women than on men.

SH v London Borough of Southwark [2023] UKUT 198 (AAC)
Housing Benefit – Entitlement where a claimant has been required to move into temporary accommodation by reason of essential repairs - Regulation 7(4) -  the correct test  - evaluation should take account of the claimant’s individual characteristics which can include impairment or vulnerability due to ill health

Harrington v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2023] 1 WLR 3473
DLA - Disabled child’s right to sickness benefit in the UK under Regulation (EC) 883/2004 where one parent is residing in the UK and the other is working in Belgum.

His Majesty's Revenue & Customs v The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and SA (TC) [2023] 1 WLR 2707
Tax Credits – F-tT’s jurisdiction to consider issues concerning entitlement to universal credit from an HMRC decision to end entitlement to tax credits when the claimant claims universal credit and receives a stop notice.

Waltham Forest LBC v PO (HB) [2022] UKUT 58 (AAC)
Housing Benefit - Application of the exemption from the bedroom tax for a foster parent accepting placements from the local authority.  Decision also considers meaning of the term “approved foster parent” and the application of non-dependant deductions where the foster parent is accepting intermittent placements.

MOC v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2022] EWCA Civ 1
DLA - Court of Appeal rules that suspension of Disability Living Allowance after 28 days in hospital did not breach a severely disabled adult’s rights under article 14 ECHR.

ZD v London Borough of Hillingdon (HB) [2021] UKUT 305 (AAC)
Housing Benefit - Claimant who moved into property after tenant went to prison - Whether claimant was “a person who has to make payments if [she] is to continue to live in the home” within meaning of reg 8(1)(c) of Housing Benefit Regulations 2006.

ED v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2020] UKUT 352 (AAC)
JSA, IS and ESA - Whether awards of benefits made to a claimant who was using a fictitious identity to gain asylum, and later British Citizenship, can be lawfully revised and recovered as overpayments, notwithstanding that the claimant was not "a person subject to immigration control".

(C 544/18) HM Revenue and Customs v Henrika Dakneviciute

Child Benefit – Right to reside – Whether the protection to pregnant workers under Saint Prix v SSWP (Case C-507/12) applies, by analogy, to the self-employed.

DC v London Borough of Bromley (HB) [2018] UKUT 416 (AAC)
Housing Benefit - Separated husband and wife who had legally binding agreement giving exclusive use of rooms within dwelling entitled to 'one bedroom self-contained accommodation' rate.

MM v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (ESA) [2017] UKUT 437 (AAC)
Income-related ESA – Right to reside - The EU doctrine of proportionality post-Mirga v SSWP in the case of a young disabled adult who was reliant on others for care and support.

Birmingham City Council v SS and SA (Roshni intervening) [2016] EWCA Civ 1211 [2017] AACR 8
Housing Benefit – “Unreasonably high” cap for private sector rents under the pre-1996 rules – The determination must not limit the comparators to unsubsidised charities.  The case concerned the level of rent charged by a women’s refuge.

GN v Sevenoaks Borough Council (HB) [2016] UKUT 271 (AAC)
A person does not ‘own’ a property which is under a restraint order forbidding sale.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v SFF, ADR v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions & CS v London Borough of Barnet & Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2015] UKUT 502 (AAC) [2016] AACR 16
IS, HB and CTB – effect of CJEU judgment in Saint Prix v SSWP (Case C-507/12) - Decision established that ‘a reasonable period” off work can be for 52 weeks.

Sanneh v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Others [2015] EWCA Civ 49 [2015] AACR 18
Income Support – A Zambrano carer was entitled to Income Support as she was not a person subject to immigration control prior to the amendments of the habitual residence test for certain benefits on 8 November 2012, which excluded Zambrano carers.

Blakesley v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2015] EWCA Civ 141 [2015] AACR 17
Income Support – Whether the abolition of the back-dating rule for refugees is contrary to Article 23 of Geneva Convention or Article 28 of Council Directive 2004/83/EC.

Burnip v Birmingham City Council and another, Trengove v Walsall Metropolitan Council and another,  Gorry v Wiltshire Council and others [2012] EWCA Civ 629 [2013] AACR 7
Housing benefit – The Court of Appeal held that the statutory criteria for calculating housing benefit for tenants in the private rented sector based on an entitlement to a one-bedroom rate discriminated against the severely disabled under the Thlimmenos principle. 

Scott v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2011] EWCA Civ 103 [2011] AACR 23
State pension credit – Meaning of “members of a religious order fully maintained by their order". 

CIS/3891/2007 [2009] UKUT 17 (AAC)
Income Support – Right to reside - Whether a claimant who had not been in work in the UK but had been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 had a right to reside for benefit purposes.

CH/1895/ 2008 [2008] UKUT 26 (AAC)
Housing Benefit – Occupation of the home, two homes and temporary absence - “dwelling” may consist of two different tenancies on different premises if it is being used as one dwelling.

CA/2574/2007 (16 June 2008)
Attendance allowance – Whether talking constitutes attention where it helps prevent a deterioration in the claimant’s mental health.

CJSA/2663/2006 (14 June 2007)
Jobseeker’s Allowance – Exemption for full-time students during summer vacation – whether discriminatory against lone parents -references to partner not compliant with ECHR.  Remedy achieved by reading regulation so that the references to a claimant’s partner are deleted.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Bhakta [2006] EWCA Civ 65
A tribunal has the power to consider whether a claimant has become habitually resident within three months of the date of claim using the advance claim rules.  NB: The effect of the decision was subsequently reversed by legislation.

Contact Desmond

Administrative and Public Law

Overview

Desmond accepts instructions in welfare benefits cases against the DWP, HMRC or local authorities by way of judicial review in the High Court where there is no right of right of appeal, or the statutory appeal route is not a suitable or effective remedy - e.g. because the clamant is at risk of losing their home.

Notable Cases

Failure to extend the £20 a week Covid uplift to legacy benefits discriminatory under ECHR 
R (T & Ors) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2022] EWHC 351 (Admin), [2021] 4 WLR 92
An article 14 ECHR challenge to the DWP’s decision not to extend the £20 Covid uplift for Universal Credit to those on Legacy Benefits when a greater proportion of disabled persons were in receipt of Legacy Benefits. For media reports see BBC News, 'Universal credit: Judge rejects £20 uplift court challenge' (An application for permission to appeal is pending before the Court of Appeal CA-2020-000604). 

Challenge to DWP’s policy of cold-calling disabled people prior to their PIP appeal being heard 
R (K) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions  CO/4263/2020
Desmond was part of the legal team instructed by the PLP representing K challenging the DWP’s practice of pressuring disabled benefits claimants into accepting less than they are legally entitled to when PIP appeals are revised by the decision maker prior to an appeal being heard by a tribunal. The claim was settled at the court door on 13 July 2021, when the DWP agreed a consent order to alter their official guidance, including the need to contact the formal representative rather than discuss the PIP award with the claimant. See media reports: 'DWP policy of cold-calling disabled people over benefit claims to end' (Guardian, 14 July 2021) and 'DWP admits wrongly putting pressure on disabled people to accept low benefit offers' (Independent, 14 July 2021). 

Supreme Court rules that DWP does not have the power to recover a debt by deductions from benefit after the making of debt relief order
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Payne and another [2011] UKSC 60, [2012] 2 AC 1
Successful test case on whether the Secretary of State has the power to recoup social fund loans and benefit overpayments by deduction from current benefit payments where those debts are listed on a debt relief order. The Court ruled that the recovery of social fund loans and benefit overpayments by deduction from benefits was a "remedy in respect of the debt" within the meaning of the Insolvency Act 1986 s.251G(2), so that the secretary of state was precluded from making such deductions during the one-year "moratorium" period after the making of a debt relief order.

Whether the application of the notional capital rules were disproportionate under Article 8 ECHR
R (Hook) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2007] EWHC 1705 (Admin) (R(IS) 7/07)
The claimant applied to the Administrative Court for judicial review of the Commissioner's refusal of leave. The claimant was severely disabled and in need of substantial care. Ms H came to live with him as his partner and carer. His awards of IS and HB were terminated on the ground that his partner had deprived herself of substantial capital before coming to live with him and that the capital fell to be treated as his notional capital, such that he was left with no IS or HB.

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Housing Law

Overview

Desmond undertakes housing work in the county court, defending possession proceedings where the rent arrears have been caused by delays in the payment of housing benefit or universal credit. He also undertakes homelessness appeals where there are underlying benefit issues, including cases where EEA nationals have been refused benefits or housing assistance based on the right to reside test.

Notable Cases

Supreme Court rules that a former secure tenant's right to apply to postpone the date of possession, and thus revive the secure tenancy, survived his death and passed to his estate
Austin v London Borough of Southwark [2010] UKSC 28, [2011] 1 AC 355
D had occupied a house under a secure tenancy. An order for possession was made against him in February 1987 after he fell into arrears with his rent. The order provided that it was not to be enforced so long as he paid the arrears. D failed to comply with the terms of the order, so it became enforceable. However, he remained in the premises, paying rent plus amounts towards the arrears, until his death in 2005. Mr Austin had moved in to the property in 2003 to care for D. In 2006, the local authority served a notice to quit on him and issued possession proceedings against him. The Court ruled the fact that the secure tenant had died did not deprive the court of its jurisdiction to exercise the power to postpone the date of possession under a possession order.

Contact Desmond

Notable Cases & News

Bethan Harris, Desmond Rutledge and Kevin Gannon contribute to Legal Action HB and UC housing costs update (Jul/Aug 24)

Our Bethan Harris, Desmond Rutledge and Kevin Gannon of the Garden Court Housing Law Team have written for Legal Action Magazine.

11 June 2024

County Court finds pre-settled status holders eligible for homelessness assistance under Housing Act 1996 on basis of right to equal treatment

The successful Appellant was represented by Adrian Berry and Desmond Rutledge of Garden Court Chambers, instructed by Shelter.

22 May 2024

Legal team acting in landmark Court of Appeal tax credit case win Citizens Advice award

Desmond Rutledge and Ollie Persey of Garden Court Chambers represented the Respondent, Mr Arrbab in the Court of Appeal.

25 April 2024

Garden Court represent tax credit claimant in a landmark Court of Appeal decision on access to justice

Desmond Rutledge and Ollie Persey of Garden Court Chambers acted for the respondent, instructed by Joe Power of Kirklees Citizens Advice & Law Centre and led by Jamie Burton KC of Doughty Street Chambers.

19 January 2024

Court of Appeal allows child’s disability living allowance appeal holding UK was competent state under EU co-ordination rules for social security

The Appellant was represented by Adrian Berry and Desmond Rutledge of Garden Court Chambers, instructed by William Ford of Osbornes Law Solicitors.

21 April 2023

Upper Tribunal rules policy of excluding cohabitees without relevant children from bereavement benefit is not incompatible with their human rights

1 February 2023

Court of Appeal rules the policy of paying a COVID uplift to Universal Credit claimants but not to those claimants on Legacy Benefits is lawful

Claimants were represented by Jamie Burton KC of Doughty Street Chambers who led Desmond Rutledge of Garden Court Chambers, instructed by William Ford of Osbornes Law Solicitors.

17 January 2023

High Court rules it was lawful to restrict £20-a-week covid uplift for Universal Credit claimants with no backdating for legacy benefits claimants

Desmond Rutledge, of the Garden Court Chambers Welfare Benefits Law Team, represented the Claimants, led by Jamie Burton QC of Doughty Street Chambers and instructed by William Ford of Osbornes Law.

18 February 2022

Suspension of DLA after 28 days in hospital did not violate Article 14 ECHR, in case of an adult patient with severe learning disabilities

The Appellant was represented by Amanda Weston QC, Desmond Rutledge and Ollie Persey of Garden Court Chambers instructed by Merseyside Law Centre (Samantha Maher, Trainee Solicitor).

13 January 2022

DWP to stop ‘cold-calling’ disabled people to make low benefit ‘offers’

The Claimant was represented by Desmond Rutledge of the Garden Court Chambers Welfare Benefits Law Team instructed by Sara Lomri of Public Law Project. The Claimant was also represented by Bijan Hoshi of Garden Court & PLP.

14 July 2021

Garden Court Immigration Team dedicate 10th Edition of Macdonald's Immigration Law & Practice to the life and legacy of Ian Macdonald QC

The General Editors, Stephanie Harrison QC, Ronan Toal & Sadat Sayeed, are leaders in the field & practice in the number one ranked Garden Court Immigration Team. David Neale is a legal researcher & former barrister

25 June 2021

High Court challenge to denial of benefit increases for nearly 2m people with disabilities

Desmond Rutledge of Garden Court Chambers instructed by William Ford of Osbornes Law.

29 April 2021

Housing Law Handbook: A Practical Guide (Law Society, 2nd edition)

Edited by Stephen Cottle. Contributors: Tim Baldwin, Adrian Berry, Tessa Buchanan, Sophie Caseley, Justine Compton, Sebastian Elgueta, Ed Fitzpatrick, Kevin Gannon, Adrian Marshall Williams, David Renton, Desmond Rutledge and Marina Sergides.

27 August 2020

Upper Tribunal rules that a British child living with her mother in the UK will not be entitled to Disability Living Allowance if her father is living and working in another EU State

Adrian Berry and Desmond Rutledge acted for the Claimant, instructed by William Ford of Osbornes Law. The claimant is considering an appeal to the Court of Appeal.

12 March 2020

New edition of 'Gypsy and Traveller Law' published by Legal Action Group

'Gypsy and Traveller Law' is edited by Marc Willers QC of Garden Court Chambers. Garden Court co-authors are Marc Willers QC, David Watkinson, Stephen Cottle, Desmond Rutledge, Owen Greenhall and Tessa Buchanan.

6 January 2020

Garden Court Housing Team responds to Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government consultation on 'A new deal for renters'

The Garden Court Housing Team welcomes the government’s proposal to abolish no fault evictions (based on s.21 Housing Act 1988).

15 October 2019

HMRC defeated at European Court of Justice on rights for pregnant self-employed EU Citizens

Adrian Berry and Desmond Rutledge of Garden Court Chambers represented Ms Dakneviciute, instructed by the Welfare Rights Service of the City of Wolverhampton Council.

19 September 2019

Legal Action Group publish 'Adult Social Care Law' (second edition, LAG) with contributions from Tim Baldwin and Desmond Rutledge of Garden Court Chambers

Tim Baldwin and Desmond Rutledge of Garden Court contributed chapters on Inquests and welfare benefits to 'Adult Social Care Law' by Stephen Knafler QC of Landmark Chambers.

15 July 2019

Court of Appeal clarifies the approach to be taken when restricting the amount of housing benefit payable to claimants in a women’s refuge

Desmond Rutledge of Garden Court Chambers acted for the Intervener (Roshni).

7 December 2016

Garden Court and Stephanie Harrison QC shortlisted for Human Rights and Public Law awards

Garden Court has been shortlisted at the Chambers Bar Awards, whilst Stephanie and our Public Law Team are shortlisted at the Legal 500 Awards.

21 October 2016

Use it or lose it: How to secure public funding for social security cases

In the October edition of Legal Action, Desmond Rutledge of Garden Court Chambers and Tom Royston of Garden Court North explain there are no shortage of qualifying social security cases for legal aid.

14 October 2015

Female EU Citizens can retain ‘Worker’ status for pregnancy-related reasons for 52 weeks

The three claimants were represented by Adrian Berry and Desmond Rutledge of Garden Court Chambers.

21 September 2015

Court of Appeal rules on whether UK is required to make backdated income support payments to refugees

Adrian Berry and Desmond Rutledge were instructed by Hackney Community Law Centre for the appellant.

26 February 2015

Court of Appeal rules that Zambrano carers are not entitled to mainstream welfare benefits after 8 November 2012

Ms Sanneh was represented by Stephen Knafler QC, Desmond Rutledge and Ali Bandegani.

10 February 2015

Decision to abolish backdating of income support for refugees to be appealed

Court of Appeal to consider whether abolishing backdating of income support for refugees breaches international law

7 July 2014

Could the earnings threshold for benefits be in breach of EU law? Desmond Rutledge explains

Desmond Rutledge, in an interview with LexisNexis, analyses the government's new minimum earnings threshold for determining whether EEA nationals who claim out-of-work benefits as a jobseeker have acquired the status of a worker.

11 March 2014

Permission granted to a Zambrano carer in an income support appeal against the Upper Tribunal

Permission has been granted by the Court of Appeal to a Zambrano carer in an income support appeal against the Upper Tribunal. The woman was represented by Stephen Knafler QC and Desmond Rutledge.

19 December 2013

Court of Appeal grants permission to appeal in a welfare benefits case

The proceedings concerned a decision to remove Ms N's entitlement to Incapacity Benefit after she scored insufficient points under the Personal Capability Assessment (‘PCA’) test. Permission to Appeal was granted.

22 April 2013

Administrative Court considers whether interim relief should be provided to a Zambrano carer

Administrative Court considers whether interim relief should be provided to a Zambrano carer denied any access to mainstream social security benefits pending the outcome of her benefit appeal

10 April 2013

Court holds differential treatment of Romani Gypsies under the Housing Benefit scheme is objectively justified

Marc Willers and Desmond Rutledge appeared for the Claimants in R (Knowles & Anor) v Secretary Of State for Work and Pensions [2013] EWHC 19 (Admin).

18 January 2013

All related news

Social Welfare Updates

Universal credit policy on deductions for court fines unlawful as it did not contain exception for financial hardship

Blog by Desmond Rutledge of the Garden Court Chambers Welfare Benefits Law Team. R (Blundel & Ors) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2021] EWHC 608 (Admin)

1 July 2021

Social Welfare Update: Person subject to immigration control cannot claim Carer’s Allowance as a family member of a British national who has not exercised freedom of movement rights

Blog post by Desmond Rutledge of the Garden Court Chambers Welfare Benefits Team. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v AS (CA) [2021] UKUT 24 (AAC)

30 April 2021

Social Welfare Update: Denial of bereavement support payment to family of a deceased woman who had been unable to work and pay NI contributions due to severe disability breached ECHR

O'Donnell v Department For Communities [2020] NICA 36

26 February 2021

Social Welfare Update: Court of Appeal rules that the exclusion of EEA citizens with ‘Pre-settled Status’ from accessing Universal Credit is unlawful

R (Fratila & Tanase) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2020] EWCA Civ 1741

26 February 2021

Social Welfare Update: Suspension of DLA after 28 days in hospital did not violate Article 14 ECHR, in case of an adult patient with severe learning disabilities

MOC (by MG) v SSWP (DLA) [2020] UKUT 134 (AAC)

26 February 2021

Social Welfare Update: Extension of Past Presence Test for DLA breaches disabled children’s Art 14 ECHR rights

Blog by Desmond Rutledge of the Garden Court Chambers Welfare Benefits Law Team on TS (by TS) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (DLA); EK (by MK) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (DLA) [2020] UKUT 284 (AAC)

23 December 2020

Social Welfare Update: Payments from discretionary trust did not disentitle claimant from income-related ESA

Blog by Desmond Rutledge of the Garden Court Chambers Welfare Benefits Law Team. SM v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (ESA) [2020] UKUT 265 (AAC)

18 December 2020

Social Welfare Update: Right to backdate benefit where claimant can no longer claim Housing Benefit after moving house to a Universal Credit full-service area

Blog by Desmond Rutledge of the Garden Court Chambers Welfare Benefits Law Team. CP v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (UC) [2020] UKUT 309 (AAC)

17 December 2020

Social Welfare Update: Court of Appeal rules that evidence of a person’s motives, intentions and expectations was not to be ignored when deciding the ‘genuine and sufficient link’ test for disability benefits

Kavanagh & Anor v The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2019] EWCA Civ 272, Sir Terence Etherton MR, McCombe, Haddon-Cave LJJ; 07 March 2019.

29 May 2019

Social Welfare Update: Revised benefit cap does not discriminate against lone parents with children below school age under arts 14 and 8 ECHR nor does it breach art 3(1) UNCRC

R (DA & Ors) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2019] UKSC 21, Lady Hale PSC, Lord Reed DPSC, Lord Kerr JSC, Lord Wilson JSC, Lord Carnwath JSC, Lord Hughes JSC, Lord Hodge JSC, 15 May 2019

28 May 2019

Social Welfare Update: Someone who is appealing a decision to refuse an application to vary leave is classified as a person subject to immigration control under s.115(9)(d) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and therefore excluded from benefits

EE v City of Cardiff (HB) [2018] UKUT 418 (AAC), 11 December 2018, UTJ R Poynter

28 May 2019

Upper Tribunal confirms that making a claim for universal credit (UC) in itself will trigger a transfer to the UC universal credit system - even if the claimant later withdraws the UC claim

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs v LD (TC): [2018] UKUT 306 (AAC), Judge Jacobs, 18 September 2018

16 October 2018

Zambrano carer entitled to Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit based on an Agreement between the EU and Morocco

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs v HEH and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (TC and CHB): [2018] UKUT 237 (AAC) Judge Ward, 17 July 2018

11 September 2018

'Windrush generation': Guidance issued to local authorities on the handling of Housing Benefit cases

On 4 May 2018 the DWP has issued an Urgent Bulletin to local authorities on how to deal with housing benefit claims from the ‘Windrush generation’.

22 June 2018

A child’s right to education and a parent's derivative right to reside is dependent on a common period of residence when the parent was a worker

In Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council v HY (HB): [2018] UKUT 103 (AAC), Judge Ward, 23 March 2018, the claimant, HY, a Dutch national, had moved to the UK in December 2012. 

22 June 2018

EU co-ordination rules do not provide for entitlement to child benefit in respect of a step child resident in another Member State

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs v MB: [2018] UKUT 162 (AAC), Judge Jacobs, 8 May 2018

22 June 2018

Upper Tribunal considers what evidence is required to accompany an application for a national insurance number

OM v Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (CHB) (Benefits for children - other) [2018] UKUT 50 (AAC)

26 March 2018

High Court rules 'blatantly discriminatory' amendments to PIP criteria unlawful

RF v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2017] EWHC 3375 (Admin) Mostyn J, 21 December 2017

5 March 2018

Self-employed EU citizens can retain that status under Article 7(3)(b) Directive 2004/38

Florea Gusa v Minister for Social Protection, Ireland, Attorney General, Case C‑442/16, J.L. da Cruz Vilaça, A. Tizzano, E. Levits, A. Borg Barthet and M. Berger, CJEU (Fifth Chamber), 20 December 2017

20 December 2017

UK required to pay Carer’s Allowance during dispute on whether another EEA state was responsible for paying that benefit

 Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Fileccia [2017] EWCA Civ 1907: Sales, Lindblom and Asplin LJJ, 24 November 2017

24 November 2017

Zambrano carers: eligibility for welfare benefits and homelessness assistance

R (on the application of HC) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2017] UKSC 73, Lady Hale and Lords Clarke, Wilson, Sumption and Carnwath, 15 November 2017

15 November 2017

Ombudsman rules on delay in council passing a housing benefit appeal to the Tribunal

The claimant applied for Housing Benefit. This was refused on the basis that her self-employment “was not effective” such that she did not have a right to reside for benefit purposes.

10 November 2017

Extension of the Worker Registration Scheme from 2009 to 2011 unlawful

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Gubeladze [2017] EWCA Civ 1751, Jackson, Lindblom, Peter Jackson LJJ, 07 November 2017

7 November 2017

Why all the fuss over Universal Credit?

The media reports highlight the human impact of the scheme and the politics, but one only has to recall the following basic information about Universal Credit to understand why it is running into trouble.

3 October 2017

Mistake of fact giving rise to unfairness

CF v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (PIP): [2017] UKUT 356 (AAC), UT Judge Gray, 29 August 2017

3 October 2017

“Yet another sorry tale of HMRC institutional incompetence and inefficiency”

VO v Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (TC): [2017] UKUT 343 (AAC), UT Judge Wikeley, 18 August 2017

2 October 2017

Upper tribunal rules DWP wrong to deny appeals over refused benefits

R(CJ) and SG v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (ESA): [2017] UKUT 324. Claimants refused access to ESA due to missing time limit for MR win the right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (FTT).

8 September 2017

New definition of 'self-employed' for working tax credit

JF v Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (TC): [2017] UKUT 334 (AAC) Importance of being realistic about small sole traders and their audit trails

8 September 2017

Citizens Advice and National Federation of ALMOs call on the Government to pause the roll-out of Universal Credit

In their report ‘Delivering Universal Credit’, Citizens Advice ask the Government to pause the roll-out of full service Universal Credit (UC) to enable time to fix the problems that have become evident in full service UC areas.

31 July 2017

The need for balance when assessing the claimant’s evidence

VS v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (ESA): [2017] UKUT 274 (AAC) (Upper Tribunal Judge E. Jacobs) 30 June 2017

31 July 2017

Whether a room is a “bedroom" for the purposes of the bedroom tax

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v The City of Glasgow Council & IB [2017] CSIH 35, 31 May 2017 The Court of Session in Scotland considers what factors should be taken into account in establishing whether a room is a bedroom for the purpose

3 July 2017

The “living in” test - whether a claimant who had been travelling abroad for 15 months is “living in” the Common Travel Area for three months prior to claiming JSA(IB)

TC v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (JSA) (Residence and presence conditions - habitual residence) [2017] UKUT 222 (AAC), 24 May 2017 (Judge White) The Upper Tribunal decided that the requirement to have been 'living in” the Common Travel Ar

3 July 2017

All social welfare updates

Background

Before coming to the Bar, Desmond volunteered at Citizens Advice and the Free Representation Unit. He also worked as a caseworker in the Advice Sector (including Citizens Advice, LEAN and Welcare) as well as becoming the Social Security Caseworker at FRU. Desmond joined Garden Court Chambers in 2004 (after completing a 12-month pupillage). He was short-listed for Young Legal Aid Barrister of the Year in 2007 for his work in social security. Desmond has used his welfare rights background to take on test cases in the Upper Tribunal and the higher courts.

Publications

His published work includes: digest editor for the Journal of Social Security Law (Sweet & Maxwell) between 2000 and 2011, a co-author of Housing Benefit Update (Legal Action Magazine) since 2005. He has also been a contributor to the following books: Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants Handbook (2006); Macdonald's Immigration Law and Practice (Macdonald & Toal) 8th & 9th editions, Housing Law Handbook, (Law Society; Cottle ed, 2009,) and Children's Social Care Law (LAG Knafler; ed 2018).

Desmond is a regular contributor to the Garden Court Social Welfare Updates blog.

Training and Seminars

Desmond regularly speaks on welfare benefits issues. He has been a speaker at events organised by Child Poverty Action Group, Housing Law Practitioners Association, Legal Action Group, the Public Law Project, the National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers, the Immigration Law Practitioners Association and the AIRE Centre.

Education

  • LLB (Hons), University of Westminster

Professional Membership

  • Legal Action Group (LAG)
  • Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)
  • Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)

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