The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Made: 19th March 2026

Laid before Parliament: 20th March 2026

Coming into force: 30th April 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 5(1)(p) and (6) and 189(1), (4) and (5) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992[^f00001].

In accordance with section 173(1)(b) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, the Social Security Advisory Committee has agreed that the proposals in respect of these Regulations should not be referred to it.

Citation, commencement and extent

1

• (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 30th April 2026.

• (2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

Amendment to the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013

2

In Schedule 6 to the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013 (deductions from benefit and direct payment to third parties)[^f00002]—

• (a) in paragraph 3(2) omit paragraph (e);

• (b) in paragraph 5(2)—

• (i) before paragraph (a) insert—

(za) Schedule 7 (deductions from benefit in respect of child support maintenance and payment to persons with care) to these Regulations;

• (ii) omit paragraphs (g) and (h); and

• (c) in paragraph 5(4) for “housing costs” substitute “deductions under Schedule 7 (deductions from benefit in respect of child support maintenance and payment to persons with care) to these Regulations”.

Signed

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Stephen Timms — Minister of State — Department for Work and Pensions — 19th March 2026

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Explanatory Note

Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends Schedule 6 to the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/380) so that deductions for child support maintenance have priority over the other deductions listed in paragraph 5(2).

Regulation 2 also omits paragraph 3(2)(e) of Schedule 6. Paragraph 3(2)(e) cross refers to paragraph 10 of that Schedule and it should have been omitted by the Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1084) when paragraph 10 was omitted. Paragraph 5(2)(g) is omitted as it also cross refers to paragraph 10 of that Schedule. Paragraph 5(2)(h) is omitted in consequence of regulation 2(b)(i).

A full impact assessment has not been produced for these Regulations as no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1992 c. 5. Section 5(6) was inserted by section 120(1) of the Housing Act 1996 (c. 52) and amended by paragraph 5(b) of Schedule 2 to the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5). Section 189 was amended by paragraph 109 of Schedule 7, and Schedule 8, to the Social Security Act 1998 (c. 14), paragraph 57(2) of Schedule 3 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2), Schedule 6 to the Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21) and S.I. 2013/252.

[^f00002]: S.I. 2013/380, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.