casework

The Situation in Iran

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Owing to the current situation in Iran, Members of Parliament may be receiving requests for assistance from constituents.

There is a new section specific to the situation in Iran at the bottom of the hotlines list and we will endeavour to keep it updated.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has asked British nationals to register their presence in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and UAE.

British Nationals who are in Iran should read the advice here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iran

Constituents should also follow the FCDO Facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/ForeignCommonwealthAndDevelopmentOffice

Parliament’s People Awards

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We’re coming up to the announcement of the 2026 Parliament’s People Awards, which recognise the inspirational teams and individuals who have impressed and shown dedication and commitment to supporting a thriving parliamentary democracy.

Anybody working for the House of Commons, House of Lords, the Parliamentary Digital Service, or in a constituency office can nominate a colleague who they believe has gone above and beyond in their work to enable UK democracy, and this year’s shortlist of nominations has now been published.

Here at w4mp we are really pleased to see that our own Karen Lawrinson, the mainstay of this site, maintainer of the hotlist, and all-round wonderful colleague has been shortlisted for the Parliamentary In-House Individual of the Year award, not just for the amazing work she does here but for her many other contributions she makes. As the nomination says, “Karen’s work directly improves the resilience, effectiveness, and cohesion of parliamentary teams, enabling staff across the UK to perform their roles with confidence and efficiency.”

Drop-in event: Meet the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO)

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For MPs and their staff.

Time: 0900-1700 – drop in, no need to book a slot
Date: Tuesday 27 January 2026
Location: Member Hub, Portcullis House

Come along and meet the Ombudsman directly to find out more about the complaints process, meet with PHSO colleagues, including Senior Caseworkers and the Policy and Public Affairs Team and learn how the team can help improve public services for your constituents
 
For more information on meeting the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, visit ParliNet. 

Access to Justice: Legal aid and services

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A research briefing from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST).

  • How have changes to legal aid affected access to justice in England and Wales?
  • What are the key trends, impacts and regional disparities in legal support and service provision?

Find out by reading the research briefing here: Access to Justice: Legal aid and services

Structure of the NHS in England (ICBs, trusts, etc) – Caseworker Discussion Forum

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Time: 1030 – 1130
Date: Thursday 12 February 2026
Location: Online via MS Teams
Information and booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1953

With Tom Powell, Manjit Gheera and Rachael Harker from the Commons Library.

MMSST Midlands Roadshow

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Sign up now!

The MMSST will be hosting a roadshow event in the Midlands this February.  

The event forms part of a wider programme of roadshows taking place across the UK this year and offers a valuable opportunity to deepen your understanding of the wide range of support and services available to you, while also providing a chance to connect and network with colleagues from other local offices.   

The agenda will include informative presentations from IPSA and the Home Office, as well as updates and workshops with House Administration services such as the Library. 

The roadshow will take place on Wednesday 11 February 2026. Please note that it is open only to parliamentary staffers.

To register to attend, please email MMSST@parliament.uk and you will be sent an outlook invitation and further information.

Benefitscast – November 2025

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The monthly Benefitscast from The Benefits Training Company features three of their benefits experts discussing the latest benefits news stories including changes to legislation, DWP announcments, relevant case law and guidance. There are links to the sources of the items discussed, and some that aren’t discussed if they think they might help.

In the November 2025 Benefitscast, David, Will and Pamela discuss:

  • Warm Home Discount
  • Pre-April LCWRA protection
  • Working age Council Tax Reduction schemes
  • Getting full arrears of the carer element in UC
  • Appealing a refusal to revise on grounds of official error; PIP and working caselaw.

You can find the latest Benefitscast here.

Library Talk – Infected blood compensation

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Time: 1030 – 1130
Date: 20 November 2025
Location: Online via Teams
Sign up link: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=8416

The government established the infected blood compensation scheme in response to the Infected Blood Inquiry. The first payments from the scheme were made in October 2024 and as of September 2025, 3,284 people have begun a claim process.

This talk explains the origin of the scheme, how it operates in practice, and recent changes to application processes. It will be useful for caseworkers and anyone who is interested to find out more about infected blood compensation.