MOC v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Subject Matter

SOCIAL SECURITY — Disability living allowance — Suspension — Vulnerable adult with severe disabilities admitted to hospital — Regulations requiring suspension of allowance after 28 days as inpatient in hospital — Whether unlawful discrimination in breach of Convention right on ground of “status” — Whether relevant status including severely disabled adult lacking capacity — Appropriate comparators — Whether hospitalisation rule manifestly without reasonable foundation — Human Rights Act 1998 (c 42), Sch 1, Pt I, art 14, Pt II, art 1 — Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991/2890) (as amended by Social Security (Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/2869), reg 4(2), Social Security (Disability Living Allowance and Claims and Payments) Amendment Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/1436), reg 2(2), Social Security (Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/389), reg 4(6)(10) and Social Security (Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (SI 2016/556), reg 2), regs 8(1)(a), 12A(1)(a)

[2020] UKUT 134 (AAC); [2020] PTSR 1337; [2020] WLR(D) 295, UT

SOCIAL SECURITY — Disability living allowance — Suspension — Vulnerable adult with severe disabilities admitted to hospital — Regulations requiring suspension of allowance after 28 days as in-patient in hospital — Whether unlawful discrimination in breach of Convention right on ground of “status” — Whether relevant status including severely disabled adult lacking capacity — Whether hospitalisation rule indirectly discriminatory — Human Rights Act 1998 (c 42), Sch 1, Pt I, art 14, Pt II, art 1 — Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991/2890), regs 8(1)(a), 12A(1)(a)

[2022] EWCA Civ 1; [2022] PTSR 576; [2022] WLR(D) 16, CA

Appellate History