Law Commons^™

Social Security, Discrimination And Justification Under The European Convention On Human Rights, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This article considers the current state of the law concerning justification of potentially discriminatory treatment in the area of social security under the European Convention on Human Rights. Over time the UK courts have become familiar with the Convention and have improved their interpretation of human rights law and, in particular, non-discrimination under Article 14 of the Convention. The final step in this process is the consideration of proportionality in relation to the justification of potentially discriminatory provisions. There have been a number of recent important decisions on this issue from the Supreme Court including the Recovery of Medical Costs …

The European Convention On Human Rights, The Un Convention On The Rights Of The Child And The ‘Benefit Cap’ - R (Sg) V Secretary Of State For Work And Pensions [2015] Uksc 16, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This note looks at the recent decision of the UK Supreme Court in the 'benefit cap' case. The Court narrowly rejected the appeal concerning whether the benefit cap was in breach of Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights but some judges would have held that the cap was in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Right To Freedom From Discrimination: Child Poverty Action Group V Attorney General, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This case comment examines recent jurisprudence concerning the right to freedom from discrimination under the New Zealand Human Rights Act (HRA) and Bill of Rights Act (NZBORA). In particular, it examines the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) v Attorney General, and also considers relevant aspects of the decisions in Ministry of Heath v Atkinson and Attorney General v IDEA Services. These three decisions have marked an important step forward in the interpretation of the human rights provisions by the New Zealand courts. Following an introduction to the issues raised in the CPAG case …

Disability Pensions, Property Rights And Legitimate Expectations: Béláné Nagy V. Hungary, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

Equal Treatment And Objective Justification In Social Security Cases Under The European Convention On Human Rights, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This article discusses recent UK case law on equal treatment and social security with particular reference on objective justification in two important recent decisions: the Supreme Court decision in Humphreys and the Court of Appeal’s judgement in Burnip. There has been a marked and progressive improvement in the analysis of equal treatment issues under the ECHR by the UK courts. Decisions of European Court have helped to clarify that Article 14 is not narrowly confined to the grounds set out in Article 14 and that a broader range of statuses are also covered. The more flexible approach to comparators has …

A Case Of Premature Litigation: Surrogacy, Equal Protection And Social Welfare Benefits, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

The issue of surrogacy in Irish law has received considerable (if somewhat belated) attention following the decision of the High Court to recognise a surrogate mother as the child’s mother for the purposes of birth certification. The Equality Tribunal has also referred to the European Court of Justice a complaint in which it has been argued that the failure to provide leave to a surrogate mother was in breach of EU and international law. A claim has also been brought under the Equal Status Acts (ESA) arguing that the failure of the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to provide a …

Benefit Overpayments, The Common Law And Human Rights, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This article examines the issue of benefits overpayments in UK social security law. Current estimates put the level of overpayments due to error (as opposed to fraud) at about £2 billion per annum. Concern about his issue has led to the publication of a DWP statement of strategy and an attempt by DWP to use the common law to recover overpaid benefits. The article looks at a number of recent court decisions which have important implications for UK practice.

Secretary Of State For Work And Pensions V. Sister Is, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This case before the Upper Tribunal concerned the rules of the state pension credit (SPC) which, in effect, provide that ‘members of religious orders’ who are ‘fully maintained by their order’ have no entitlement to a state pension credit. As the Three-Judge Panel pointed out this is the rule ‘regardless of the actual amount of their income or their other circumstances’. The case concerned both the interpretation of these two phrases and – assuming the Panel found that they applied to the claimants – the compatibility of such an approach with the European Convention on Human Rights (the Convention issue).

Human Rights, Anti-Discrimination And Social Security Benefits: Recent Uk Case Law, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

Since the adoption of the Human Rights Act 1998, challenges to UK social security law on the basis of the European Convention on Human Rights have become common - especially under the anti-discrimination provisions of Article 14. However, few of these challenges have been successful and, in general, the English courts have shown a poor understanding of the principles of human rights law. The recent decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in Stec (2005) 41 EHRR SE 295 and the House of Lords in RJM (2008) UKHL 63 have clarified important issues including the material scope of the …

The European Convention On Human Rights, Non-Discrimination And Social Security: Great Scope, Little Depth?, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This article examines the non-discrimination provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to social security law. There is a now a broad power of review under the ECHR as most social security payments fall within the scope of the Convention. There is also a more flexible approach to the grounds upon which discrimination can be challenged under Article 14. However, it is suggested that the European courts may need to adopt a more nuanced (or proportionate) approach to equality review rather than a binary approach.

Widow's Pension And Gender Equality: Runkee V. United Kingdom, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

The long litigation saga involving the compatibility of UK legislation on survivors’ benefits appears to have come to a (not particularly glorious) end with the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) decision in Runkee and White v United Kingdom. This case involved a challenge to the compatibility of national law on the payment of widows’ pensions solely to women, similar to that considered by the House of Lords in Hooper and the ECtHR came to a similar conclusion holding that UK law was not incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Asset Freezing, Social Security, And Human Rights, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This case analysis discusses a recent decision of the Court of Appeal concerning restrictions placed on the payment of certain social security benefits in the context of the UN asset freezing regime. The case is an interesting example of the sort of new questions coming before the courts in the post-9 11 world and raises a number of issues worthy of note. In particular, it raises the question of the approach which national and supranational courts should adopt to balancing the implementation of anti-terrorism measures with the upholding of the principles of human rights (and their application in practice).

Citizenship, Residence And Social Security, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

In two recent cases the Court of Justice has considered the impact of Union citizenship on the long-standing issue of the exportability of social security payments. These decisions clarify (i) the position of the Court in relation to the material scope of the protection provided by Article 18 EC, i.e. that the exercise of free movement is itself sufficient to bring an issue within the scope of the Treaty regardless of whether the issue actually in dispute involves a question of Community law and (ii) that the Court will examine residence requirements as a restriction on the freedoms conferred by …

Social Welfare Reform: An Analysis Of Germany's Agenda 2010 Labor Market Reforms And The United States' Personal Responsibility And Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Prwora) Of 1996, Jennifer Allison

Jennifer Allison

This 2006 student comment presents a historical view of the social welfare systems in the United States and Germany. It then explains and analyzes recent large-scale reforms made to each country's social welfare system - the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 in the United States, which profoundly impacted the availability of welfare benefits to poor Americans, and Germany's Agenda 2010 campaign, which, in accordance with the recommendations of the Hartz Commission, reformed Germany's legislative system of providing benefits to the long-term unemployed.