Over 15,000 people could benefit from a compensation fund (Image: Getty Images)
Thousands of disabled Brits could be set to receive a £5,000 payment from the Department for Work and Pensions () following a successful High Court case. The compensation relates to disability benefit claimants who were switched to Universal Credit before January 2019 and as a result, lost out on severe disability premium (SDP) and enhanced disability premium (EDP), which saw their incomes slashed by up to £180 monthly.
The legal challenge was spearheaded by two people identified only as TP and AR, backed by Leigh Day solicitors. The High Court’s decision prompted the to agree on paying damages, with over 200 people already receiving between £200 to £3,000.
Leigh Day has estimated that each eligible claimant might receive in excess of £5,000, benefiting potentially over 15,000 recipients before an August 2025 deadline for claims, reports .
39-year-old Chesterfield local Philippa, previously entitled to both SDP and EDP, was reassigned to Universal Credit in December 2018. She later discovered she was only granted transitional protection for SDP and not EDP, resulting in her losing £184.21 from her monthly income.
Philippa’s words highlight the stress such financial uncertainty can cause: “When you’re on benefits, you don’t feel secure. Every day you wait for the little brown envelope.”
Securing compensation has made a significant difference, enabling access to nutritionally balanced meals rather than relying on cheaper, less healthy alternatives. Many individuals, including those with relatively good incomes, continue to struggle with the .
Ryan Bradshaw from Leigh Day said: “I am glad to have settled this claim on behalf of my clients. However, there are thousands of others who have been similarly affected who have not been in a position to bring a claim like this. They too will have experienced the loss of £180 a month after they were moved from legacy benefits on to universal credit in the years before January 2019.”
He added: “They too will have suffered unnecessary stress. A suitable scheme, compensating all the people who have endured discrimination at the hands of the , ought to be urgently put in place. The mistakes made here should never be repeated.”