The Supreme Court has held the government acted unlawfully in suspending disability living allowance (DLA) from a very sick child treated in hospital for more than 84 days, which caused the parents financial hardship. In Cameron Mathieson (a deceased child) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2015] UKSC 47, [2015] All ER (D) 90 (Jul) the court held there had been a violation of the boy’s human rights. The boy’s father, Craig Mathieson, commented that the decision was a ”fantastic legacy” for Cameron. About 500 families are expected to seek the reinstatement of their DLA payments following this case.
16 July 2015
Disability living allowance suspension unlawful
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Slater Heelis—Probate & Court of Protection team
Slater Heelis brings Probate and Court of Protection expertise together with new dedicated team
Clarke Willmott—Antonia Power
Antonia Power joins Clarke Willmott in Taunton
Haynes Boone—Chris Acton
Chris Acton joins Haynes Boone as chair of UK derivatives platform
NEWS
Civil practitioners face changes spanning debt recovery, workplace harassment and possession claims, alongside guidance on insolvency challenges and children proceedings
Finding matrimonial wealth is as challenging as dividing it, as family disputes draw practitioners into asset tracing, offshore structures and insolvency
Agreement between opponents offers no guarantee that a court will approve a retrospective increase to a costs budget
Climate change belongs on every lawyer’s agenda, with risks extending far beyond environmental practice into commercial advice, litigation and access to justice
Workplace bullying and harassment can no longer be left solely to HR, as financial regulation scrutinises culture, character and fitness
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