claimant

Competing claimants such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei have staked claims on islands and various zones in the sea.

The DWP has faced criticism for failing to prevent overpayments, despite its systems flagging when a claimant is earning too much.

Proving the intentional infliction of harm would mean the claimants could be awarded additional damages.

Extra benefit payments for health conditions will also be frozen for current claimants and nearly halved for new applicants.

Some claimants are waiting more than six months to be assessed, with people writing on social media that the delays have resulted in them losing job offers.