PART 1INTRODUCTORY

Citation and commencement

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 16th June 2014.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“the 2002 Act” means the Tax Credits Act 2002(3);

“the 2007 Act” means the Welfare Reform Act 2007(4);

“the Act” means the Welfare Reform Act 2012;

“assessment period” has the same meaning as in the Universal Credit Regulations(5);

“the Claims and Payments Regulations” means the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013(6);

“contributory employment and support allowance” means a contributory allowance under Part 1 of the 2007 Act(7) as that Part has effect apart from the amendments made by Schedule 3, and Part 1 of Schedule 14, to the Act that remove references to an income-related allowance;

“exempt accommodation” has the same meaning as in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Universal Credit Regulations;

“existing benefit” means income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, income support, housing benefit and child tax credit and working tax credit under the 2002 Act, but see also regulation 25(2);

“First-tier Tribunal” has the same meaning as in the Social Security Act 1998(8);

“housing benefit” means housing benefit under section 130 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992(9);

“income-based jobseeker’s allowance” has the same meaning as in the Jobseekers Act 1995(10);

“income-related employment and support allowance” means an income-related allowance under Part 1 of the 2007 Act(11);

“income support” means income support under section 124 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992;

“joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance” means old style JSA, entitlement to which arises by virtue of section 1(2B) of the Jobseekers Act 1995(12);

“new claimant partner” has the meaning given in regulation 7;

“new style ESA” means an allowance under Part 1 of the 2007 Act as amended by the amendments made by Schedule 3, and Part 1 of Schedule 14, to the Act that remove references to an income-related allowance;

“new style JSA” means an allowance under the Jobseekers Act 1995 as amended by the amendments made by Part 1 of Schedule 14 to the Act that remove references to an income-based allowance;

“old style ESA” means an employment and support allowance under Part 1 of the 2007 Act as that Part has effect apart from the amendments made by Schedule 3, and Part 1 of Schedule 14, to the Act that remove references to an income-related allowance;

“old style JSA” means a jobseeker’s allowance under the Jobseekers Act 1995 as that Act has effect apart from the amendments made by Part 1 of Schedule 14 to the Act that remove references to an income-based allowance;

“partner” in relation to a person (“A”) means a person who forms part of a couple with A(13);

“tax credit” (including “child tax credit” and “working tax credit”), “tax credits” and “tax year” have the same meanings as in the 2002 Act(14);

“the Universal Credit Regulations” means the Universal Credit Regulations 2013(15);

“Upper Tribunal” has the same meaning as in the Social Security Act 1998.

(2) For the purposes of these Regulations—

(a)the date on which a claim for universal credit is made is to be determined in accordance with the Claims and Payments Regulations(16);

(b)where a couple is treated, in accordance with regulation 9(8) of the Claims and Payments Regulations, as having made a claim for universal credit, references to the date on which the claim is treated as made are to the date of formation of the couple;

(c)where a regulation refers to entitlement to an existing benefit on the date on which a claim for universal credit is made or treated as made, such entitlement is to be taken into account notwithstanding the effect of regulations 5, 7 and 8 or termination of an award of the benefit before that date by virtue of an order made under section 150(3) of the Act(17).

Revocation and saving of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2013

3.—(1) The Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2013(18) (“the 2013 Regulations”) are revoked, subject to the savings in paragraphs (2) to (4).

(2) Chapters 2 and 3 of Part 2 (Pathfinder Group and treatment of invalid claims) of the 2013 Regulations continue to have effect in relation to a claim for universal credit—

(a)which was made before the date on which these Regulations come into force (“the commencement date”); and

(b)in respect of which no payment has been made to the claimant before the commencement date.

(3) Regulation 19 of the 2013 Regulations (advance payments of universal credit) continues to have effect in relation to an advance payment which was made in accordance with that regulation before the commencement date and regulation 17 of these Regulations does not apply to such a payment.

(4) Any other provision of the 2013 Regulations continues to have effect in so far as is necessary to give full effect to paragraphs (2) and (3).

PART 2TRANSITION TO UNIVERSAL CREDIT

CHAPTER 1ENTITLEMENT TO CLAIM UNIVERSAL CREDIT

Secretary of State discretion to determine that claims for universal credit may not be made

4.—(1) Where the Secretary of State considers it necessary, in order to—

(a)safeguard the efficient administration of universal credit; or

(b)ensure the effective testing of systems for the administration of universal credit,

to cease to accept claims in any area, or in any category of case (either in all areas or in a specified area), the Secretary of State may determine that claims for universal credit may not be made in that area, or in that category of case.

(2) A determination under paragraph (1) has effect until it ceases to have effect in accordance with a further determination made by the Secretary of State.

(3) More than one determination under paragraph (1) may have effect at the same time.

CHAPTER 2ENTITLEMENT TO OTHER BENEFITS

Exclusion of entitlement to certain benefits

5.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a claimant is not entitled to—

(a)income support;

(b)housing benefit;

(c)a tax credit; or

(d)state pension credit under the State Pension Credit Act 2002(19),

in respect of any period when the claimant is entitled to universal credit(20).

(2) Entitlement to universal credit does not preclude the claimant from entitlement—

(a)to housing benefit in respect of exempt accommodation; or

(b)during the first assessment period for universal credit, where the claimant is a new claimant partner, to—

(i)income support, where an award to which the new claimant partner is entitled terminates, in accordance with regulation 7(4), after the first date of entitlement to universal credit;

(ii)housing benefit, where regulation 7(5)(b) applies and an award of housing benefit to which the new claimant partner is entitled terminates after the first date of entitlement to universal credit; or

(iii)a tax credit, where an award to which the new claimant partner is entitled terminates, in accordance with the 2002 Act, after the first date of entitlement to universal credit.

Exclusion of claims for certain existing benefits

6.—(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (5) to (9) a universal credit claimant may not make a claim for income support, housing benefit or a tax credit.

(2) For the purposes of this regulation, a person is a universal credit claimant if—

(a)the person is entitled to universal credit;

(b)the person has made a claim for universal credit, a decision has not yet been made on that claim and the person has not been informed (in accordance with an order made under section 150(3) of the Act) that he or she is not entitled to claim universal credit;

(c)the person was previously entitled to a joint award of universal credit which terminated because the person ceased to be a member of a couple, he or she is not exempt (by virtue of regulation 9(6) of the Claims and Payments Regulations) from the condition of entitlement to universal credit that he or she makes a claim for it and the period of one month, starting with the date on which the person notified the Secretary of State that he or she had ceased to be a member of a couple, has not expired;

(d)the person is treated, under the Claims and Payments Regulations, as having made a claim for universal credit, or may be entitled to an award of universal credit in circumstances where, by virtue of those Regulations, it is not a condition of entitlement that he or she makes a claim for it, but no decision has yet been made as to the person’s entitlement;

(e)a decision has been made that the person is not entitled to universal credit and—

(i)the Secretary of State is considering whether to revise that decision under section 9 of the Social Security Act 1998, whether on an application made for that purpose, or on the Secretary of State’s own initiative; or

(ii)the person has appealed against that decision to the First-tier Tribunal and that appeal or any subsequent appeal to the Upper Tribunal or to a court has not been finally determined.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)—

(a)a universal credit claimant makes a claim for benefit mentioned in that paragraph if the claimant takes any action which results in a decision on a claim being required under the relevant Regulations; and

(b)except as provided in paragraphs (5) to (7), it is irrelevant that the effect of any provision of the relevant Regulations is that, for the purposes of those Regulations, the claim is made or treated as made at a time when the claimant was not a universal credit claimant.

(4) The relevant Regulations are—

(a)in relation to a claim for income support, the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987(21) (“the 1987 Regulations”);

(b)in relation to a claim for housing benefit, the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006(22) (“the 2006 Regulations”) or, as the case may be, the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006(23) (“the 2006 (SPC) Regulations”);

(c)in relation to a claim for a tax credit, the Tax Credits (Claims and Notifications) Regulations 2002(24).

(5) A universal credit claimant is not precluded from making a claim for income support if—

(a)first notification of the claimant’s intention to make that claim was made, or deemed to be made, for the purposes of regulation 6(1A)(c) of the 1987 Regulations(25), before the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made; and

(b)in accordance with the 1987 Regulations, the claimant’s entitlement to income support in connection with the claim will (if the claimant is entitled to income support) pre-date—

(i)the date, or anticipated date, of the claimant’s entitlement to universal credit in connection with the current award or claim; or

(ii)where the claimant is a new claimant partner and regulation 7(4) would apply to the award, the date on which it would terminate in accordance with that provision.

(6) A universal credit claimant is not precluded from making a claim for housing benefit if—

(a)first notification of the claimant’s intention to make that claim was given (within the meaning of regulation 83(5)(d) of the 2006 Regulations(26) or, as the case may be, regulation 64(6)(d) of the 2006 (SPC) Regulations(27)) before the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made; and

(b)in accordance with the 2006 Regulations or, as the case may be, the 2006 (SPC) Regulations, the claimant’s entitlement to housing benefit in connection with the claim will (if the claimant is entitled to housing benefit) pre-date—

(i)the date, or anticipated date, of the claimant’s entitlement to universal credit in connection with the current award or claim; or

(ii)where the claimant is a new claimant partner and regulation 7(5)(b) would apply to the award, the date on which it would terminate in accordance with the 2006 Regulations or, as the case may be, the 2006 (SPC) Regulations.

(7) A universal credit claimant is not precluded from correcting or completing a claim for housing benefit which was defective within the meaning of the 2006 Regulations or the 2006 (SPC) Regulations if—

(a)the defective claim was made before the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made; and

(b)in accordance with the 2006 Regulations or, as the case may be, the 2006 (SPC) Regulations, the claimant’s entitlement to housing benefit in connection with the claim will (if the claimant is entitled to housing benefit) pre-date—

(i)the date, or anticipated date, of the claimant’s entitlement to universal credit in connection with the current award or claim; or

(ii)where the claimant is a new claimant partner and regulation 7(5)(b) would apply to the award, the date on which it would terminate in accordance with the 2006 Regulations or, as the case may be, the 2006 (SPC) Regulations.

(8) A universal credit claimant is not precluded from making a claim for housing benefit in respect of exempt accommodation.

(9) A universal credit claimant is not precluded from making a claim for a tax credit which the claimant is treated as having made by virtue of regulation 7(7) or 8(4)(a).

Termination of awards of certain existing benefits: new claimant partners

7.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)a person (“A”) who was previously entitled to universal credit as a single person ceases to be so entitled on becoming a member of a couple;

(b)the other member of the couple (“the new claimant partner”) was not entitled to universal credit as a single person immediately before formation of the couple;

(c)the couple is treated, in accordance with regulation 9(8) of the Claims and Payments Regulations, as having made a claim for universal credit; and

(d)the Secretary of State is satisfied that the claimants meet the basic conditions specified in section 4(1)(a) to (d) of the Act (other than any of those conditions which they are not required to meet by virtue of regulations under section 4(2) of the Act).

(2) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), where this regulation applies, all awards of income support or housing benefit to which the new claimant partner would (were it not for the effect of these Regulations) have been entitled during the relevant period are to terminate, by virtue of this regulation—

(a)on the day before the first date on which the joint claimants are entitled to universal credit in connection with the claim; or

(b)if the joint claimants are not entitled to universal credit, on the day before the first date on which they would have been so entitled, if all of the basic and financial conditions applicable to them had been met; or

(c)if the new claimant partner became entitled to an award after the date on which it would otherwise terminate under sub-paragraph (a) or (b), at the beginning of the first day of entitlement to that award.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation, “the relevant period” is the period starting with the first day of the assessment period (in relation to A’s award of universal credit) during which A and the new claimant partner formed a couple and ending with the date of formation of the couple.

(4) Where the new claimant partner was entitled during the relevant period to income support, he or she was at that time a member of a couple and the award included an amount in respect of the new claimant partner and their partner at that time (“P”), the award of income support terminates, by virtue of this regulation, on the date on which the new claimant partner and P ceased to be a couple for the purposes of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987, unless it terminates on that date in accordance with other legislative provision, or terminated on an earlier date.

(5) An award of housing benefit to which the new claimant partner is entitled does not terminate by virtue of this regulation where—

(a)the award is in respect of exempt accommodation; or

(b)the new claimant partner leaves the accommodation in respect of which housing benefit was paid, in order to live with A(28).

(6) Where an award terminates by virtue of this regulation, any legislative provision under which the award terminates on a later date does not apply.

(7) Where the new claimant partner was, immediately before forming a couple with A, treated by regulation 11 as being entitled to a tax credit, the new claimant partner is to be treated, for the purposes of the 2002 Act, as having made a claim for the tax credit in question for the current tax year.

Termination of awards of certain existing benefits: other claimants

8.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)a claim for universal credit (other than a claim which is treated, in accordance with regulation 9(8) of the Claims and Payments Regulations, as having been made) is made; and

(b)the Secretary of State is satisfied that the claimant meets the basic conditions specified in section 4(1)(a) to (d) of the Act (other than any of those conditions which the claimant is not required to meet by virtue of regulations under section 4(2) of the Act).

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where this regulation applies, all awards of income support, housing benefit or a tax credit to which the claimant (or, in the case of joint claimants, either of them) is entitled on the date on which the claim is made are to terminate, by virtue of this regulation—

(a)on the day before the first date on which the claimant is entitled to universal credit in connection with the claim; or

(b)if the claimant is not entitled to universal credit, on the day before the first date on which he or she would have been so entitled, if all of the basic and financial conditions applicable to the claimant had been met.

(3) An award of housing benefit to which a claimant is entitled in respect of exempt accommodation does not terminate by virtue of this regulation.

(4) Where this regulation applies and the claimant (or, in the case of joint claimants, either of them) is treated by regulation 11 as being entitled to a tax credit—

(a)the claimant (or, as the case may be, the relevant claimant) is to be treated, for the purposes of the 2002 Act and this regulation, as having made a claim for the tax credit in question for the current tax year; and

(b)if the claimant (or the relevant claimant) is entitled on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made to an award of a tax credit which is made in respect of a claim which is treated as having been made by virtue of sub-paragraph (a), that award is to terminate, by virtue of this regulation—

(i)on the day before the first date on which the claimant is entitled to universal credit; or

(ii)if the claimant is not entitled to universal credit, on the day before the first date on which he or she would have been so entitled, if all of the basic and financial conditions applicable to the claimant had been met.

(5) Where an award terminates by virtue of this regulation, any legislative provision under which the award terminates on a later date does not apply.

Treatment of ongoing entitlement to certain benefits: benefit cap

9.—(1) This regulation applies where a claimant who is a new claimant partner, or who has (in accordance with regulation 26 of the Universal Credit Regulations) been awarded universal credit in respect of a period preceding the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made—

(a)is entitled, in respect of the whole or part of the first assessment period for universal credit, to a welfare benefit (other than universal credit) mentioned in regulation 79(4) of the Universal Credit Regulations (circumstances where the benefit cap applies); and

(b)is entitled to housing benefit at any time during the first assessment period for universal credit, or would be so entitled were it not for the effect of these Regulations.

(2) Where this regulation applies, regulation 79 of the Universal Credit Regulations applies, in relation to the claimant, as if the benefit in question was not included in the list of welfare benefits in paragraph (4) of that regulation.

Treatment of overpayments

10.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who was previously entitled to an existing benefit other than a tax credit or a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance; and

(b)a payment of the existing benefit is made which includes payment (“the overpayment”) in respect of a period—

(i)during which the claimant is not entitled to that benefit (including non-entitlement which arises from termination of an award by virtue of an order made under section 150(3) of the Act or regulation 7, 8, or 14); and

(ii)which falls within an assessment period for universal credit.

(2) Where this regulation applies, for the purposes of calculating the amount of an award of universal credit in respect of an assessment period—

(a)regulation 66 of the Universal Credit Regulations (what is included in unearned income?) applies as if the overpayment which was made in respect of that assessment period were added to the descriptions of unearned income in paragraph (1)(b) of that regulation; and

(b)regulation 73 of the Universal Credit Regulations (unearned income calculated monthly) does not apply to the overpayment.

(3) In so far as any overpayment is taken into account in calculating the amount of an award of universal credit in accordance with this regulation, that payment may not be recovered as an overpayment under—

(a)the Social Security (Payments on account, Overpayments and Recovery) Regulations 1988(29);

(b)the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006(30); or

(c)the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006(31).

Ongoing awards of tax credits

11.—(1) For the purposes of regulations 7(7) and 8(4)—

(a)a person is to be treated as being entitled to working tax credit with effect from the start of the current tax year even though a decision has not been made under section 14 of the 2002 Act in respect of a claim for that tax credit for that tax year, if the person was entitled to working tax credit for the previous tax year and any of the cases specified in paragraph (2) applies; and

(b)a person is to be treated as being entitled to child tax credit with effect from the start of the current tax year even though a decision has not been made under section 14 of the 2002 Act in respect of a claim for that tax credit for that tax year, if the person was entitled to child tax credit for the previous tax year and any of the cases specified in paragraph (2) applies.

(2) The cases are—

(a)a final notice has not been given to the person under section 17 of the 2002 Act in respect of the previous tax year;

(b)a final notice has been given, which includes provision by virtue of subsection (2) or (4) of section 17, or a combination of those subsections and subsection (6) and—

(i)the date specified in the notice for the purposes of section 17(2) and (4) or, where different dates are specified, the later of them, has not yet passed and no claim for a tax credit for the current tax year has been made, or treated as made; or

(ii)a claim for a tax credit has been made, or treated as made, on or before the date mentioned in paragraph (i), but no decision has been made in relation to that claim under section 14(1) of the 2002 Act;

(c)a final notice has been given, no claim for a tax credit for the current year has been made, or treated as made, and no decision has been made under section 18(1) of the 2002 Act in respect of entitlement to a tax credit for the previous tax year; or

(d)a final notice has been given and—

(i)the person did not make a declaration in response to provision included in that notice by virtue of section 17(2)(a), (4)(a) or (6)(a), or any combination of those provisions, by the date specified in the notice;

(ii)the person was given due notice that payments of tax credit under section 24(4) of the 2002 Act had ceased due to his or her failure to make the declaration; and

(iii)the person’s claim for universal credit is made during the period of 30 days starting with the date on the notice referred to in paragraph (ii) or, where the person is a new claimant partner, notification of formation of a couple with a person entitled to universal credit is given to the Secretary of State during that period.

Modification of tax credits legislation: overpayments and penalties

12.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)a claim for universal credit is made, or is treated as having been made;

(b)the claimant is, or was at any time during the tax year in which the claim is made or treated as made, entitled to a tax credit; and

(c)the Secretary of State is satisfied that the claimant meets the basic conditions specified in section 4(1)(a) to (d) of the Act (other than any of those conditions which the claimant is not required to meet by virtue of regulations under section 4(2) of the Act).

(2) Where this regulation applies, the 2002 Act applies in relation to the claimant with the following modifications.

(3) In section 28—

(a)in subsection (1)—

(i)after “tax year” in both places where it occurs, insert “or part tax year”;

(ii)at the end insert “or treated as an overpayment of universal credit”;

(b)in subsections (3) and (4), after “repaid” insert “to the Board or, as the case may be, to the Secretary of State”;

(c)omit subsection (5);

(d)in subsection (6) omit “(apart from subsection (5))”.

(4) In section 29(4)—

(a)after “regulations” insert “or, as the case may be, regulations made by the Secretary of State under the Social Security Administration Act 1992”;

(b)after “any tax credit” insert “, or universal credit,”.

(5) In section 48 after the definition of “overpayment” insert—

““part tax year” means a period of less than a year beginning with 6th April and ending with the date on which the award of a tax credit terminated,”.

(6) In Schedule 2, in paragraph 6(1)(a) and (c) and (2)(a), after “for the tax year” insert “or part tax year”.

Appeals etc relating to certain existing benefits

13.—(1) This regulation applies where, after an award of universal credit has been made to a claimant—

(a)an appeal against a decision relating to the entitlement of the claimant to income support, housing benefit or a tax credit (a “relevant benefit”) is finally determined;

(b)a decision relating to the claimant’s entitlement to income support is revised under section 9 of the Social Security Act 1998 (“the 1998 Act”) or superseded under section 10 of that Act;

(c)a decision relating to the claimant’s entitlement to housing benefit is revised or superseded under Schedule 7 to the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000(32); or

(d)a decision relating to the claimant’s entitlement to a tax credit is revised under section 19 or 20 of the 2002 Act, or regulations made under section 21 of that Act, or is varied or cancelled under section 21A of that Act(33).

(2) Where the claimant is a new claimant partner and, as a result of determination of the appeal or, as the case may be, revision or supersession of the decision the claimant would (were it not for the effect of these Regulations) be entitled to income support or housing benefit during the relevant period mentioned in regulation 7(3), awards of those benefits are to terminate in accordance with regulation 7.

(3) Where the claimant is not a new claimant partner and, as a result of determination of the appeal or, as the case may be, revision, supersession, variation or cancellation of the decision, the claimant would (were it not for the effect of these Regulations) be entitled to a relevant benefit on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made, awards of relevant benefits are to terminate in accordance with regulation 8.

(4) The Secretary of State is to consider whether it is appropriate to revise under section 9 of the 1998 Act the decision in relation to entitlement to universal credit or, if that decision has been superseded under section 10 of that Act, the decision as so superseded (in either case, “the UC decision”).

(5) Where it appears to the Secretary of State to be appropriate to revise the UC decision, it is to be revised in such manner as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary to take account of—

(a)the decision of the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal or court, or, as the case may be, the decision relating to entitlement to a relevant benefit, as revised, superseded, varied or cancelled; and

(b)any finding of fact by the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal or court.

Appeals etc relating to universal credit

14.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)a decision is made that a claimant is not entitled to universal credit (“the UC decision”);

(b)the claimant becomes entitled to income support, housing benefit or a tax credit (a “relevant benefit”);

(c)an appeal against the UC decision is finally determined, or the decision is revised under section 9 of the Social Security Act 1998;

(d)an award of universal credit is made to the claimant in consequence of entitlement arising from the appeal, or from the decision as revised; and

(e)the claimant would (were it not for the effect of regulation 5 and this regulation) be entitled to both universal credit and a relevant benefit in respect of the same period.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where this regulation applies—

(a)all awards of a relevant benefit to which the claimant would (were it not for the effect of these Regulations) be entitled are to terminate, by virtue of this regulation, at the beginning of the first day of entitlement to that award; and

(b)any legislative provision under which an award would otherwise terminate on a later date does not apply.

(3) An award of housing benefit to which a claimant is entitled in respect of exempt accommodation does not terminate by virtue of this regulation.

CHAPTER 3EFFECT OF TRANSITION TO UNIVERSAL CREDIT

Modification of Claims and Payments Regulations in relation to universal credit claimants

15.—(1) Where a claim for universal credit is made by a person who was previously entitled to an existing benefit, regulation 26 of the Claims and Payments Regulations (time within which a claim for universal credit is to be made) applies in relation to that claim with the modification specified in paragraph (2).

(2) In paragraph (3) of regulation 26, after sub-paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa)the claimant was previously in receipt of an existing benefit (as defined in the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014) and notification of expiry of entitlement to that benefit was not sent to the claimant before the date that the claimant’s entitlement expired;”.

Persons unable to act

16.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies where—

(a)a person (“P2”) has been appointed, or treated as appointed, under regulation 33(1) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987(34) (“the 1987 Regulations”) (persons unable to act) to exercise rights and to receive and deal with sums payable on behalf of a person who is unable to act (“P1”); or

(b)a person (“P2”) has been appointed under regulation 18(3) of the Tax Credits (Claims and Notifications) Regulations 2002 (“the 2002 Regulations”) (circumstances where one person may act for another in making a claim – other appointed persons) to act for a person who is unable to act (“P1”) in making a claim for a tax credit.

(2) Where this paragraph applies and P1 is, or may be, entitled to universal credit, the Secretary of State may, if P2 agrees, treat the appointment of P2 as if it were made under regulation 57(1) of the Claims and Payments Regulations (persons unable to act) and P2 may carry out the functions set out in regulation 57(4) of those Regulations in relation to P1.

(3) Paragraph (4) applies where a person (“P2”) was appointed, or treated as appointed, under regulation 57(1) of the Claims and Payments Regulations to carry out functions in relation to a person who is unable to act (“P1”) and who was, or might have been, entitled to universal credit, but who has ceased to be so entitled, or was not in fact so entitled.

(4) Where this paragraph applies—

(a)the Secretary of State may, if P2 agrees, treat the appointment of P2 as if it were made under regulation 33(1) of the 1987 Regulations and P2 may exercise rights and receive and deal with sums payable in respect of existing benefits on behalf of P1; and

(b)the Board (within the meaning of the 2002 Regulations) may, if P2 agrees, treat the appointment of P2 as if it were made under regulation 18(3) of the 2002 Regulations and P2 may act for P1 in making a claim for a tax credit.

Advance payments of universal credit

17.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)the Secretary of State is deciding a claim for universal credit, other than a claim which is treated as having been made, in accordance with regulation 9(8) of the Claims and Payments Regulations;

(b)the claimant is, or was previously, entitled to an existing benefit (“the earlier award”); and

(c)if the earlier award terminated before the date on which the claim for universal credit was made, the claim for universal credit was made during the period of one month starting with the date of termination.

(2) Where this regulation applies—

(a)a single claimant may request an advance payment of universal credit;

(b)joint claimants may jointly request such a payment,

at any time during the first assessment period for universal credit.

(3) Where a request has been made in accordance with this regulation, the Secretary of State may make an advance payment to the claimant, or joint claimants, of such amount in respect of universal credit as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(4) After an advance payment has been made under this regulation, payments of any award of universal credit to the claimant or, in the case of joint claimants, to either or both of them, may be reduced until the amount of the advance payment is repaid.

Deductions from benefits

18.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who—

(i)was entitled to income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance or income support (a “relevant award”) on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made;

(ii)is a new claimant partner who was, immediately before forming a couple with a person entitled to universal credit, the partner of a person (“P”) who was at that time entitled to a relevant award; or

(iii)is not a new claimant partner and was, immediately before making a claim for universal credit, the partner of a person (“P”) who was at that time entitled to a relevant award, where the award of universal credit is not a joint award to the claimant and P; and

(b)on the relevant date, deductions in respect of fuel costs or water charges were being made under regulation 35 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987, in accordance with Schedule 9 to those Regulations(35).

(2) In this regulation, the “relevant date” means—

(a)where paragraph (1)(a)(i) applies and the claimant is not a new claimant partner, the date on which the claim for universal credit was made;

(b)where paragraph (1)(a)(i) applies and the claimant is a new claimant partner, the date on which the claim for universal credit was treated as made;

(c)where paragraph (1)(a)(ii) or (iii) applies, the date on which the claimant ceased to be the partner of P.

(3) Where this regulation applies, deductions in respect of fuel costs or, as the case may be, water charges, may be made from the award of universal credit in accordance with Schedule 6 to the Claims and Payments Regulations, without the need for any consent which would otherwise be required under paragraph 3(3) of that Schedule.

(4) For the purposes of this regulation, a deduction is to be taken into account even if the relevant award subsequently terminated by virtue of an order made under section 150(3) of the Act, regulation 7 or, as the case may be, regulation 8, before the date on which the deduction was first applied.

Transition from old style ESA

19.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who was entitled to old style ESA on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made (“the relevant date”); and

(b)on or before the relevant date it had been determined that the claimant was entitled to the work-related activity component or to the support component.

(2) Where, on or before the relevant date, it had been determined that the claimant was entitled to the work-related activity component—

(a)regulation 27(3) of the Universal Credit Regulations (award to include LCW and LCWRA elements) does not apply; and

(b)the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work for the purposes of regulation 27(1)(a) of those Regulations and section 21(1)(a) of the Act.

(3) Unless the assessment phase applied and had not ended at the relevant date(36), in relation to a claimant who is treated as having limited capability for work under paragraph (2)—

(a)regulation 28 of the Universal Credit Regulations (period for which the LCW or LCWRA element is not to be included) does not apply; and

(b)the LCW element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations) to be included in the award with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period.

(4) Where, on or before the relevant date, it had been determined that the claimant was entitled to the support component—

(a)regulation 27(3) of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply; and

(b)the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work and work-related activity for the purposes of regulation 27(1)(b) of those Regulations and section 19(2)(a) of the Act.

(5) Unless the assessment phase applied and had not ended at the relevant date, in relation to a claimant who is treated as having limited capability for work and work-related activity under paragraph (4)(4)(b)—

(a)regulation 28 of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply; and

(b)the LCWRA element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations) to be included in the award of universal credit with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period.

(6) For the purposes of this regulation, a determination that the claimant was entitled to the work-related activity component or, as the case may be, the support component, is to be taken into account even if the award of old style ESA subsequently terminated (in so far as it was an award of income-related employment and support allowance) before the date on which that determination was made, by virtue of an order made under section 150(3) of the Act.

(7) Where a claimant is treated, by virtue of this regulation, as having limited capability for work or, as the case may be, limited capability for work and work-related activity, the Secretary of State may at any time make a fresh determination as to these matters, in accordance with the Universal Credit Regulations.

(8) In this regulation and in regulations 20 to 27—

“assessment phase”, “support component” and “work-related activity component” have the same meanings as in the 2007 Act(37);

“incapacity benefit” and “severe disablement allowance” have the same meanings as in Schedule 4 to that Act;

“LCW element” and “LCWRA element” have the same meanings as in the Universal Credit Regulations(38).

(9) For the purposes of this regulation and regulation 20, references to cases in which the assessment phase applied are references to cases in which sections 2(2)(a), 2(3)(a), 4(4)(a) and 4(5)(a) of the 2007 Act applied and references to cases in which the assessment phase did not apply are references to cases in which those sections did not apply(39).

Transition from old style ESA before the end of the assessment phase

20.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who was entitled to old style ESA on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made (“the relevant date”); and

(b)on the relevant date, the assessment phase in relation to the claimant applied(40) and had lasted for less than 13 weeks.

(2) Where this regulation applies—

(a)regulation 28(2) of the Universal Credit Regulations (period for which the LCW or LCWRA element is not to be included) does not apply; and

(b)for the purposes of regulation 28 of those Regulations, the relevant period is—

(i)the period of 13 weeks starting with the first day of the assessment phase; or

(ii)where regulation 5 of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 (the assessment phase – previous claimants) applied to the claimant, the period which ends when the sum of the periods for which the claimant was previously entitled to old style ESA and the period for which the claimant is entitled to universal credit is 13 weeks.

(3) Where, on the relevant date, the assessment phase in relation to the claimant applied and had not ended and had lasted for more than 13 weeks—

(a)regulation 28 of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply;

(b)if it is subsequently determined in accordance with Part 5 of those Regulations that the claimant has limited capability for work the LCW element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of those Regulations) to be included in the award of universal credit with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period;

(c)if it is subsequently determined in accordance with Part 5 of the Universal Credit Regulations that the claimant has limited capability for work and work-related activity the LCWRA element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of those Regulations) to be included in the award of universal credit with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period.

(4) For the purposes of this regulation, the fact that an assessment phase applied in relation to a claimant on the relevant date is to be taken into account even if the award of old style ESA subsequently terminated (in so far as it was an award of income-related employment and support allowance) before that date by virtue of an order made under section 150(3) of the Act.

Other claimants with limited capability for work: credits only cases

21.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who was entitled to be credited with earnings equal to the lower earnings limit then in force under regulation 8B(2)(iv), (iva) or (v) of the Social Security (Credits) Regulations 1975(41) (“the 1975 Regulations”) on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made (the “relevant date”); and

(b)neither regulation 19 nor regulation 20 applies to that claimant (whether or not, in the case of joint claimants, either of those regulations apply to the other claimant).

(2) Where, on or before the relevant date, it had been determined that the claimant would have limited capability for work (within the meaning of Part 1 of the 2007 Act) if he or she was entitled to old style ESA—

(a)regulation 27(3) of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply; and

(b)the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work for the purposes of regulation 27(1)(a) of those Regulations and section 21(1)(a) of the Act.

(3) Unless the notional assessment phase applied and had lasted for less than 13 weeks at the relevant date(42), in relation to a claimant who is treated as having limited capability for work under paragraph (2)—

(a)regulation 28 of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply; and

(b)the LCW element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations) to be included in the award with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period.

(4) Where, on or before the relevant date, it had been determined that the claimant would have limited capability for work-related activity (within the meaning of Part 1 of the 2007 Act) if he or she was entitled to old style ESA—

(a)regulation 27(3) of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply; and

(b)the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work and work-related activity for the purposes of regulation 27(1)(b) of those Regulations and section 19(2)(a) of the Act.

(5) Unless the notional assessment phase applied and had lasted for less than 13 weeks at the relevant date, in relation to a claimant who is treated as having limited capability for work and work-related activity under paragraph (4)—

(a)regulation 28 of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply; and

(b)the LCWRA element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations) to be included in the award of universal credit with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period.

(6) Where, on the relevant date, the notional assessment phase in relation to the claimant to whom the award was made applied and had lasted for less than 13 weeks—

(a)regulation 28(2) of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply; and

(b)for the purposes of regulation 28 of those Regulations, the relevant period is the period of 13 weeks starting with the first day of the notional assessment phase.

(7) Where, on the relevant date, the notional assessment phase in relation to the claimant applied and had not ended and had lasted for more than 13 weeks—

(a)regulation 28 of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply;

(b)if it is subsequently determined in accordance with Part 5 of those Regulations that the claimant has limited capability for work, the LCW element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of those Regulations) to be included in the award of universal credit with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period;

(c)if it is subsequently determined in accordance with Part 5 of those Regulations that the claimant has limited capability for work and work-related activity, the LCWRA element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of those Regulations) to be included in the award of universal credit with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period.

(8) Where a claimant is treated, by virtue of this regulation, as having limited capability for work or, as the case may be, limited capability for work and work-related activity, the Secretary of State may at any time make a fresh determination as to these matters, in accordance with the Universal Credit Regulations.

(9) For the purposes of this regulation—

(a)a determination that the claimant would have limited capability for work or, as the case may be, limited capability for work-related activity, if the claimant was entitled to old style ESA is to be taken into account even if the claimant subsequently ceased to be entitled as mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) before the date on which that determination was made because he or she became entitled to universal credit;

(b)the fact that a notional assessment phase applied in relation to a claimant on the relevant date is to be taken into account even if the claimant subsequently ceased to be entitled as mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) before that date because the claimant became entitled to universal credit.

(c)references to a determination that the claimant would have limited capability for work if the claimant was entitled to old style ESA do not include a determination made under regulation 30 of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008(43) (conditions for treating a claimant as having limited capability for work until a determination about limited capability for work has been made);

(d)references to cases in which the notional assessment phase applied are references to cases in which sections 2(2)(a), 2(3)(a), 4(4)(a) and 4(5)(a) of the 2007 Act would have applied to the claimant if he or she had been entitled to old style ESA in addition to the entitlement mentioned in paragraph (1)(a), but do not include cases in which the claimant is entitled as mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) under regulation 8B(2)(iva) of the 1975 Regulations;

(e)subject to sub-paragraph (f), the “notional assessment phase” is the period of 13 weeks starting on the day on which the assessment phase would have started in relation to the claimant, if he or she had been entitled to old style ESA and sections 2(2)(a), 2(3)(a), 4(4)(a) and 4(5)(a) of the 2007 Act had applied;

(f)the notional assessment phase has not ended if, at the end of the 13 week period referred to in sub-paragraph (e), no determination has been made as to whether a claimant would have limited capability for work (within the meaning of Part 1 of the 2007 Act) if the claimant was entitled to old style ESA.

Transition from income support payable on the grounds of incapacity for work or disability

22.—(1) This regulation applies where an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who was entitled to income support on the grounds of incapacity for work or disability on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made.

(2) Where this regulation applies—

(a)if it is determined in accordance with Part 5 of the Universal Credit Regulations that the claimant has limited capability for work—

(i)the claimant is to be treated as having had limited capability for work for the purposes of regulation 27(1)(a) of the Universal Credit Regulations (award to include LCW and LCWRA elements) from the beginning of the first assessment period;

(ii)regulation 28 of those Regulations (period for which the LCW or LCWRA element is not to be included) does not apply; and

(iii)the LCW element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations) to be included in the award with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period;

(b)if it is determined in accordance with Part 5 of the Universal Credit Regulations that the claimant has limited capability for work and work-related activity—

(i)the claimant is to be treated as having had limited capability for work and work-related activity for the purposes of regulation 27(1)(b) of the Universal Credit Regulations from the beginning of the first assessment period;

(ii)regulation 28 of those Regulations does not apply; and

(iii)the LCWRA element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations) to be included in the award of universal credit with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period.

(3) In this regulation—

“income support on the grounds of incapacity for work or disability” means an award of income support which is an “existing award” within the meaning of Schedule 4 to the 2007 Act.

Transition from other incapacity benefits

23.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who is entitled to incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance(44); and

(b)it is subsequently determined in accordance with the Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No.2) Regulations 2010(45) that the award of incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance qualifies for conversion into an award (“the converted award”) in accordance with regulation 7 of those Regulations (qualifying for conversion).

(2) Where this regulation applies and the converted award includes the work-related activity component—

(a)regulation 27(3) of the Universal Credit Regulations (award to include LCW and LCWRA elements) does not apply and, where a decision on the award of universal credit incorporates a determination which has already been made in accordance with that regulation, that decision is to be revised in accordance with this regulation;

(b)the claimant is to be treated as having had limited capability for work for the purposes of regulation 27(1)(a) of the Universal Credit Regulations from the beginning of the first assessment period;

(c)regulation 28(1) of those Regulations (period for which LCW or LCWRA element is not to be included) does not apply;

(d)the LCW element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations) to be included in the award of universal credit with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period; and

(e)the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work for the purposes of section 21(1)(a) of the Act.

(3) Where this regulation applies and the converted award includes the support component—

(a)regulation 27(3) of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply and, where a decision on the award of universal credit incorporates a determination which has already been made in accordance with that regulation, that decision is to be revised in accordance with this regulation;

(b)the claimant is to be treated as having had limited capability for work and work-related activity for the purposes of regulation 27(1)(b) of the Universal Credit Regulations from the beginning of the first assessment period;

(c)regulation 28(1) of those Regulations does not apply;

(d)the LCWRA element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations) to be included in the award of universal credit with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period; and

(e)the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work and work-related activity for the purposes of section 19(2)(a) of the Act.

Transition from other incapacity benefits: claimants approaching pensionable age

24.—(1) This paragraph applies where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who is entitled to incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance;

(b)no notice has been issued to the claimant under regulation 4 (notice commencing the conversion phase) of the Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No.2) Regulations 2010 (“the 2010 Regulations”);

(c)the claimant will reach pensionable age (within the meaning of the 2010 Regulations(46)) within the period of one year; and

(d)the claimant is also entitled to—

(i)personal independence payment, where neither the daily living component nor the mobility component is payable at the enhanced rate(47);

(ii)disability living allowance under section 71 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (“the 1992 Act”), where the care component is payable at the middle rate within the meaning of section 72(4) of that Act or the mobility component is payable at the lower rate within the meaning of section 73(11) of that Act (or both components are payable at those rates);

(iii)attendance allowance under section 64 of the 1992 Act, where the allowance is payable at the lower rate in accordance with section 65 of that Act;

(iv)an increase in the weekly rate of disablement pension under section 104 of the 1992 Act (increase where constant attendance needed), where the increase is of an amount which is equal to or less than the amount specified in paragraph 2(a) of Part V of Schedule 4 to that Act; or

(v)any payment based on the need for attendance which is paid as an addition to a war disablement pension (which means any retired pay or pension or allowance payable in respect of disablement under an instrument specified in section 639(2) of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003(48)), where the amount of that payment is equal to or less than the amount specified in paragraph 2(a) of Part V of Schedule 4 to the 1992 Act.

(2) Where paragraph (1) applies and paragraph (3) does not apply—

(a)regulation 27(3) of the Universal Credit Regulations (award to include LCW and LCWRA elements) does not apply;

(b)the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work for the purposes of regulation 27(1)(a) of those Regulations from the beginning of the first assessment period;

(c)regulation 28(1) of the Universal Credit Regulations (period for which LCW or LCWRA element is not to be included) does not apply;

(d)the LCW element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations) to be included in the award of universal credit with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period; and

(e)the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work for the purposes of section 21(1)(a) of the Act.

(3) This paragraph applies where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who is entitled to incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance;

(b)no notice has been issued to the claimant under regulation 4 of the 2010 Regulations;

(c)the claimant will reach pensionable age (within the meaning of the 2010 Regulations) within the period of one year; and

(d)the claimant is also entitled to—

(i)personal independence payment, where either the daily living component or the mobility component is (or both components are) payable at the enhanced rate;

(ii)disability living allowance under section 71 of the 1992 Act, where the care component is payable at the highest rate within the meaning of section 72(4) of that Act or the mobility component is payable at the higher rate within the meaning of section 73(11) of that Act (or both components are payable at those rates);

(iii)attendance allowance under section 64 of the 1992 Act, where the allowance is payable at the higher rate in accordance with section 65 of that Act;

(iv)armed forces independence payment under the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011;

(v)an increase in the weekly rate of disablement pension under section 104 of the 1992 Act, where the increase is of an amount which is greater than the amount specified in paragraph 2(a) of Part V of Schedule 4 to that Act; or

(vi)any payment based on the need for attendance which is paid as an addition to a war disablement pension (which means any retired pay or pension or allowance payable in respect of disablement under an instrument specified in section 639(2) of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003), where the amount of that payment is greater than the amount specified in paragraph 2(a) of Part V of Schedule 4 to the 1992 Act.

(4) Where paragraph (3) applies (whether or not paragraph (1) also applies)—

(a)regulation 27(3) of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply;

(b)the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work and work-related activity for the purposes of regulation 27(1)(b) of those Regulations from the beginning of the first assessment period;

(c)regulation 28(1) of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply;

(d)the LCWRA element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations) to be included in the award of universal credit with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period; and

(e)the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work and work-related activity for the purposes of section 19(2)(a) of the Act.

Transition from other incapacity benefits: supplementary

25.—(1) Where an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who is entitled to incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance, regulation 66 of the Universal Credit Regulations (what is included in unearned income?) applies to the claimant as if incapacity benefit or, as the case may be, severe disablement allowance were added to the descriptions of unearned income in paragraph (1)(b) of that regulation.

(2) For the purposes of regulations 23 and 24 and this regulation only, incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance are prescribed benefits under paragraph 1(2)(b) of Schedule 6 to the Act.

Other claimants with incapacity for work: credits only cases where claimant is approaching pensionable age

26.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who was entitled to be credited with earnings equal to the lower earnings limit then in force under regulation 8B(2)(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) of the Social Security (Credits) Regulations 1975 on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made;

(b)the claimant will reach pensionable age within the meaning of the Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No.2) Regulations 2010 within the period of one year; and

(c)neither regulation 22 nor regulation 24 applies to that claimant (whether or not, in the case of joint claimants, either of those regulations apply to the other claimant).

(2) Where the claimant is entitled to a payment, allowance or increased rate of pension specified in regulation 24(1)(d) and is not entitled to a payment, allowance or increased rate of pension specified in regulation 24(3)(d)—

(a)regulation 27(3) of the Universal Credit Regulations (award to include LCW and LCWRA elements) does not apply;

(b)the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work for the purposes of regulation 27(1)(a) of those Regulations from the beginning of the first assessment period;

(c)regulation 28(1) of the Universal Credit Regulations (period for which the LCW or LCWRA element is not to be included) does not apply;

(d)the LCW element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations) to be included in the award of universal credit with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period; and

(e)the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work for the purposes of section 21(1)(a) of the Act.

(3) Where the claimant is entitled to a payment, allowance or increased rate of pension specified in regulation 24(3)(d) (whether or not the claimant is also entitled to a payment, allowance or increased rate of pension specified in regulation 24(1)(d))—

(a)regulation 27(3) of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply;

(b)the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work and work-related activity for the purposes of regulation 27(1)(b) of those Regulations from the beginning of the first assessment period;

(c)regulation 28(1) of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply;

(d)the LCWRA element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations) to be included in the award of universal credit with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period; and

(e)the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work and work-related activity for the purposes of section 19(2)(a) of the Act.

Other claimants with incapacity for work: credits only cases

27.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who was entitled to be credited with earnings equal to the lower earnings limit then in force under regulation 8B(2)(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) of the Social Security (Credits) Regulations 1975 on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made; and

(b)none of regulations 22, 23, 24 or 26 apply to that claimant (whether or not, in the case of joint claimants, any of those regulations apply to the other claimant).

(2) Where this regulation applies—

(a)if it is determined in accordance with Part 5 of the Universal Credit Regulations that the claimant has limited capability for work—

(i)the claimant is to be treated as having had limited capability for work for the purposes of regulation 27(1)(a) of the Universal Credit Regulations (award to include LCW and LCWRA elements) from the beginning of the first assessment period;

(ii)regulation 28 of the Universal Credit Regulations (period for which the LCW or LCWRA element is not to be included) does not apply; and

(iii)the LCW element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations) to be included in the award with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period;

(b)if it is determined in accordance with Part 5 of the Universal Credit Regulations that the claimant has limited capability for work and work-related activity—

(i)the claimant is to be treated as having had limited capability for work and work-related activity for the purposes of regulation 27(1)(b) of the Universal Credit Regulations from the beginning of the first assessment period;

(ii)regulation 28 of the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply; and

(iii)the LCWRA element is (subject to the provisions of Part 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations) to be included in the award of universal credit with effect from the beginning of the first assessment period.

Meaning of “qualifying young person”

28.  Where a person who would (apart from the provision made by this regulation) be a “qualifying young person” within the meaning of regulation 5 of the Universal Credit Regulations is entitled to an existing benefit—

(a)that person is not a qualifying young person for the purposes of the Universal Credit Regulations; and

(b)regulation 5(5) of those Regulations applies as if, after “a person who is receiving” there were inserted “an existing benefit (within the meaning of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014),”.

Support for housing costs

29.—(1) Paragraph (3) applies where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who—

(i)was entitled to income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance or income support (a “relevant award”) at any time during the period of one month ending with the day on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made (or would have been so entitled were it not for termination of that award by virtue of an order made under section 150(3) of the Act or the effect of these Regulations); or

(ii)was at any time during the period of one month ending with the day on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made, the partner of a person (“P”) who was at that time entitled to a relevant award, where the award of universal credit is not a joint award to the claimant and P; and

(b)on the relevant date, the relevant award included an amount in respect of housing costs under—

(i)paragraphs 14 to 16 of Schedule 2 to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996(49) (“the 1996 Regulations”);

(ii)paragraphs 16 to 18 of Schedule 6 to the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008(50) (“the 2008 Regulations”); or, as the case may be,

(iii)paragraphs 15 to 17 of Schedule 3 to the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987(51) (“the 1987 Regulations”).

(2) In this regulation, the “relevant date” means—

(a)where paragraph (1)(a)(i) applies and the claimant was not entitled to the relevant award on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made, the date on which the relevant award terminated;

(b)where paragraph (1)(a)(i) applies, the claimant is not a new claimant partner and he or she was entitled to the relevant award on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made, that date;

(c)where paragraph (1)(a)(i) applies, the claimant is a new claimant partner and he or she was entitled to the relevant award on the date on which the claim for universal credit was treated as made, that date;

(d)where paragraph (1)(a)(ii) applies, the date on which the claimant ceased to be the partner of P or, if earlier, the date on which the relevant award terminated.

(3) Where this paragraph applies, paragraph 5 of Schedule 5 to the Universal Credit Regulations (no housing costs element under this Schedule for qualifying period) does not apply.

(4) Paragraph (5) applies where paragraph (1)(a) applies, but the relevant award did not include an amount in respect of housing costs because the claimant’s entitlement (or, as the case may be, P’s entitlement) was nil by virtue of—

(a)paragraph 6(1)(c) or 7(1)(b) of Schedule 2 to the 1996 Regulations;

(b)paragraph 8(1)(c) or 9(1)(b) of Schedule 6 to the 2008 Regulations; or, as the case may be,

(c)paragraph 6(1)(c) or 8(1)(b) of Schedule 3(52) to the 1987 Regulations.

(5) Where this paragraph applies—

(a)paragraph 5(2) of Schedule 5 to the Universal Credit Regulations does not apply; and

(b)the “qualifying period” referred to in paragraph 5 of that Schedule is the period of 91 days starting with the first day on which the claimant (or, as the case may be, P) was entitled to the relevant award, taking into account any period which was treated as a period of continuing entitlement under—

(i)paragraph 13 of Schedule 2 to the 1996 Regulations(53);

(ii)paragraph 15 of Schedule 6 to the 2008 Regulations(54); or, as the case may be,

(iii)paragraph 14 of Schedule 3 to the 1987 Regulations(55),

provided that, throughout that part of the qualifying period after the award of universal credit is made, receipt of universal credit is continuous and the claimant otherwise qualifies for the inclusion of an amount calculated under Schedule 5 to the Universal Credit Regulations in their award.

(6) For the purposes of—

(a)paragraph (1)(b) of this regulation, inclusion of an amount in respect of housing costs in a relevant award is to be taken into account even if the relevant award subsequently terminated by virtue of an order made under section 150(3) of the Act, regulation 7 or, as the case may be, regulation 8, before the date on which that amount was included in the award;

(b)paragraph (5)(b) of this regulation, entitlement to a relevant award is to be treated as having continued until the relevant date even if the award subsequently terminated by virtue of an order made under section 150(3) of the Act, regulation 7 or, as the case may be, regulation 8, before that date.

Sanctions: transition from old style ESA

30.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who was previously entitled to old style ESA (“the ESA award”); and

(b)on the relevant date, payments in respect of the ESA award were reduced under regulation 63 of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008(56) (“the 2008 Regulations”).

(2) In this regulation, the “relevant date” means—

(a)where the claimant was not entitled to old style ESA on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made, the date on which the ESA award terminated;

(b)where the claimant is not a new claimant partner and was entitled to old style ESA on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made, that date;

(c)where the claimant is a new claimant partner and was entitled to old style ESA on the date on which the claim for universal credit was treated as made, that date.

(3) Where this regulation applies—

(a)the failure which led to reduction of the ESA award (“the ESA failure”) is to be treated, for the purposes of the Universal Credit Regulations, as a failure which is sanctionable under section 27 of the Act;

(b)the award of universal credit is to be reduced in relation to the ESA failure, in accordance with the provisions of this regulation and Chapter 2 of Part 8 of the Universal Credit Regulations (sanctions), as modified by this regulation; and

(c)the reduction is to be treated, for the purposes of the Universal Credit Regulations, as a reduction under section 27 of the Act.

(4) The reduction period for the purposes of the Universal Credit Regulations(57) is a period of the number of days which is equivalent to the length of the fixed period applicable to the person under regulation 63(7) of the 2008 Regulations in relation to the ESA failure, minus—

(a)the number of days (if any) in that period in respect of which the amount of old style ESA was reduced; and

(b)if the ESA award terminated before the first date of entitlement to universal credit in connection with the current award, the number of days (if any) in the period after termination of that award, before the start of the universal credit award.

(5) Accordingly, regulation 101 of the Universal Credit Regulations (general principles for calculating reduction periods) applies in relation to the ESA failure as if, in paragraphs (1) and (3), for “in accordance with regulations 102 to 105”, there were substituted “in accordance with regulation 30 of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014”.

(6) For the purposes of this regulation, a determination that payments in respect of the ESA award are to be reduced under regulation 63 of the 2008 Regulations is to be taken into account even if the ESA award subsequently terminated (in so far as it was an award of income-related employment and support allowance) on a date before the date on which that determination was made, by virtue of an order made under section 150(3) of the Act.

Escalation of sanctions: transition from old style ESA

31.—(1) This regulation applies where an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who was at any time previously entitled to old style ESA.

(2) Where this regulation applies, for the purposes of determining the reduction period under regulation 104 of the Universal Credit Regulations (low-level sanction) in relation to a sanctionable failure by the claimant, other than a failure which is treated as sanctionable by virtue of regulation 30—

(a)a reduction of universal credit in accordance with regulation 30; and

(b)any reduction of old style ESA under the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 (“the 2008 Regulations”) which did not result in a reduction under regulation 30,

is, subject to paragraph (3), to be treated as arising from a sanctionable failure for which the reduction period which applies is the number of days which is equivalent to the length of the fixed period which applied under regulation 63 of the 2008 Regulations.

(3) In determining a reduction period under regulation 104 of the Universal Credit Regulations in accordance with paragraph (2), no account is to be taken of—

(a)a reduction of universal credit in accordance with regulation 30 if, at any time after that reduction, the claimant was entitled to an existing benefit;

(b)a reduction of old style ESA under the 2008 Regulations if, at any time after that reduction, the claimant was entitled to universal credit, new style ESA or new style JSA, and was subsequently entitled to an existing benefit.

Sanctions: transition from old style JSA

32.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who was previously entitled to old style JSA (“the JSA award”);

(b)on the relevant date, payments in respect of the JSA award were reduced under section 19 (as it applied either before or after substitution by the Act(58)) or section 19A of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (“the 1995 Act”), or under regulation 69B of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996(59) (“the 1996 Regulations”); and

(c)if the JSA award was made to a joint-claim couple within the meaning of the 1995 Act and the reduction related to—

(i)in the case of a reduction under section 19 as it applied before substitution by the Act, circumstances relating to only one member of the couple; or,

(ii)in the case of a reduction under section 19 as it applied after substitution by the Act, a sanctionable failure by only one member of the couple,

the award of universal credit was made to that person.

(2) In this regulation, the “relevant date” means—

(a)where the claimant was not entitled to old style JSA on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made, the date on which the JSA award terminated;

(b)where the claimant is not a new claimant partner and was entitled to old style JSA on the date on which the claim for universal credit was made, that date;

(c)where the claimant is a new claimant partner and was entitled to old style JSA on the date on which the claim for universal credit was treated as made, that date.

(3) Where this regulation applies—

(a)the circumstances or failure which led to reduction of the JSA award (in either case, “the JSA failure”) is to be treated, for the purposes of the Universal Credit Regulations, as—

(i)a failure which is sanctionable under section 26 of the Act, where the reduction was under section 19 of the 1995 Act; or

(ii)a failure which is sanctionable under section 27 of the Act, where the reduction was under section 19A of the 1995 Act or regulation 69B of the 1996 Regulations;

(b)the award of universal credit is to be reduced in relation to the JSA failure, in accordance with the provisions of this regulation and Chapter 2 of Part 8 of the Universal Credit Regulations (sanctions), as modified by this regulation; and

(c)the reduction is to be treated, for the purposes of the Universal Credit Regulations, as a reduction under section 26 or, as the case may be, section 27 of the Act.

(4) The reduction period for the purposes of the Universal Credit Regulations is a period of the number of days which is equivalent to the length of the period of reduction which is applicable to the person under regulation 69, 69A or 69B of the 1996 Regulations, minus—

(a)the number of days (if any) in that period in respect of which the amount of old style JSA was reduced; and

(b)if the award of old style JSA terminated before the first date of entitlement to universal credit in connection with the current award, the number of days (if any) in the period after termination of that award, before the start of the universal credit award.

(5) Accordingly, regulation 101 of the Universal Credit Regulations applies in relation to the JSA failure as if, in paragraphs (1) and (3), for “in accordance with regulations 102 to 105”, there were substituted “in accordance with regulation 32 of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014”.

(6) Where the JSA award was made to a joint-claim couple within the meaning of the 1995 Act and the JSA failure related to only one member of the couple, the daily reduction rate for the purposes of the Universal Credit Regulations(60) is the amount calculated in accordance with regulation 70(3) of the 1996 Regulations(61) in respect of the JSA award, divided by seven and rounded down to the nearest 10 pence, unless regulation 111(2) or (3) of the Universal Credit Regulations (daily reduction rate) applies.

(7) Where the daily reduction rate is to be determined in accordance with paragraph (6), regulation 111(1) of the Universal Credit Regulations applies in relation to the JSA failure as if, for the words from “an amount equal to” to the end there were substituted the words “an amount determined in accordance with regulation 32 of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014”.

(8) For the purposes of this regulation, a determination that payments in respect of the JSA award are to be reduced under regulation 69, 69A or 69B of the 1996 Regulations is to be taken into account even if the JSA award subsequently terminated (in so far as it was an award of income-based jobseeker’s allowance) on a date before the date on which that determination was made, by virtue of an order made under section 150(3) of the Act.

Escalation of sanctions: transition from old style JSA

33.—(1) This regulation applies where an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who was at any time previously entitled to old style JSA.

(2) Where this regulation applies, for the purposes of determining the applicable reduction period under regulation 102 (higher-level sanction), 103 (medium-level sanction) or 104 (low-level sanction) of the Universal Credit Regulations in relation to a sanctionable failure by the person, other than a failure which is treated as sanctionable by virtue of regulation 32—

(a)a reduction of universal credit in accordance with regulation 32; and

(b)any reduction of old style JSA under section 19 or 19A of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (“the 1995 Act”), or under regulation 69B of the 1996 Regulations which did not result in a reduction under regulation 32,

is, subject to paragraph (3), to be treated as arising from a sanctionable failure for which the reduction period is the number of days which is equivalent to the length of the period which applied under regulation 69, 69A or 69B of the 1996 Regulations.

(3) In determining a reduction period under regulation 102, 103 or 104 of the Universal Credit Regulations in accordance with paragraph (2), no account is to be taken of—

(a)a reduction of universal credit in accordance with regulation 32 if, at any time after that reduction, the claimant was entitled to an existing benefit;

(b)a reduction of old style JSA under section 19 or 19A of the 1995 Act, or under regulation 69B of the 1996 Regulations if, at any time after that reduction, the claimant was entitled to universal credit, new style ESA or new style JSA, and was subsequently entitled to an existing benefit.

Sanctions: temporary return to certain existing benefits

34.  If an award of universal credit terminates while there is an outstanding reduction period (within the meaning of regulation 107 of the Universal Credit Regulations) and the claimant becomes entitled to old style JSA, old style ESA or income support (“the relevant benefit”) during that period—

(a)regulation 107 of the Universal Credit Regulations (reduction period to continue where award terminates) ceases to apply; and

(b)the reduction period is to terminate on the first date of entitlement to the relevant benefit.

Loss of benefit penalties: transition from existing benefits other than tax credits

35.—(1) Subject to paragraph (6), this regulation applies in the cases set out in paragraphs (2) to (4).

(2) The first case is where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who is an offender;

(b)the claimant was entitled to old style JSA, old style ESA, income support or housing benefit (“the earlier award”) at any time during the period of one month ending with the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made (or would have been so entitled were it not for termination of that award by virtue of an order made under section 150(3) of the Act or, as the case may be, the effect of these Regulations); and

(c)payments in respect of the earlier award were, on the relevant date, subject to a restriction under section 6B (loss of benefit in case of conviction, penalty or caution for benefit offence), 7 (repeated benefit fraud) or 8 (effect of offence on joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance) of the 2001 Act.

(3) The second case is where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who is an offender;

(b)another person who was the offender’s family member (but is no longer their family member) was entitled to old style JSA, old style ESA, income support or housing benefit (“the earlier award”) at any time during the period of one month ending with the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made; and

(c)payments in respect of the earlier award were, on the relevant date, subject to a restriction under section 9 (effect of offence on benefits for members of offender’s family) of the 2001 Act.

(4) The third case is where—

(a)an award of universal credit is made to a claimant who is an offender’s family member;

(b)the offender, or the claimant, was entitled to old style JSA, old style ESA, income support or housing benefit (“the earlier award”) at any time during the period of one month ending with the date on which the claim for universal credit was made or treated as made; and

(c)payments in respect of the earlier award were, on the relevant date, subject to a restriction under section 6B, 7, 8 or, as the case may be, 9 of the 2001 Act.

(5) Where this regulation applies—

(a)any subsequent payment of universal credit to the claimant in respect of an assessment period which falls wholly or partly within the remainder of the disqualification period applicable to the offender is to be reduced in accordance with regulation 36; and

(b)regulation 3ZB of the 2001 Regulations(62) does not apply.

(6) This regulation does not apply if the earlier award was a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance and—

(a)payments in respect of the award were, on the relevant date, subject to a restriction under section 8(2) of the 2001 Act; or

(b)the award of universal credit is not made to joint claimants who were, on the relevant date, both entitled to the joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance.

(7) In this regulation and in regulation 36—

“the 2001 Act” means the Social Security Fraud Act 2001(63);

“the 2001 Regulations” means the Social Security (Loss of Benefit) Regulations 2001(64);

“disqualification period” has the meaning given in the 2001 Act(65), interpreted in accordance with the 2001 Regulations(66);

“earlier award” is to be interpreted in accordance with paragraph (2)(b), (3)(b) or, as the case may be, (4)(b) and, for the purposes of regulation 36, where there is more than one earlier award, the term refers to the award to which the claimant became entitled most recently;

“offender” means an offender within the meaning of the 2001 Act(67);

“offender’s family member” has the same meaning as in the 2001 Act(68);

“the relevant date” means—

(8) For the purposes of this regulation, the fact that payments in respect of an earlier award were subject to a restriction is to be taken into account, even if the earlier award subsequently terminated before the date on which payments became subject to a restriction by virtue of an order made under section 150(3) of the Act (in so far as it was an award of income-based jobseeker’s allowance or income-related employment and support allowance), regulation 7 or, as the case may be, regulation 8.

Loss of benefit penalties: reduction of universal credit

36.—(1) Subject to paragraph (6), where regulation 35 applies, the amount of a reduction of universal credit in respect of an assessment period is to be calculated by multiplying the daily reduction rate by the number of days in the assessment period, unless paragraph (2) applies.

(2) Where the disqualification period ends during an assessment period, the amount of the reduction for that assessment period is (subject to paragraph (6)) to be calculated by multiplying the daily reduction rate by the number of days in the assessment period which are within the disqualification period.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), the daily reduction rate where regulation 35 applies is an amount which is equal to—

(a)the monetary amount by which payments in respect of the earlier award were reduced in accordance with section 6B or 7 of the 2001 Act or, as the case may be, regulation 3, 3ZA(69) or 17 of the 2001 Regulations in respect of the last complete week before the relevant date (within the meaning of regulation 35);

(b)multiplied by 52;

(c)divided by 365; and

(d)rounded down to the nearest 10 pence.

(4) Where the monetary amount by which payments in respect of the earlier award would have been reduced would, if the claimant had remained entitled to the earlier award, have changed during the disqualification period because of an order made under section 150 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (annual up-rating of benefits)—

(a)the daily reduction rate is to be calculated in accordance with paragraph (3), but on the basis of the new amount by which payments would have been reduced; and

(b)any adjustment to the reduction of universal credit is to take effect from the first day of the first assessment period to start after the date of the change.

(5) Where the earlier award was a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance, the daily reduction rate is an amount which is equal to—

(a)the amount of the standard allowance(70) applicable to the joint claimants under regulation 36 of the Universal Credit Regulations (table showing amounts of elements);

(b)multiplied by 12;

(c)divided by 365;

(d)reduced by 60%; and

(e)rounded down to the nearest 10 pence.

(6) The amount of the reduction under this regulation in respect of any assessment period is not to exceed the amount of the standard allowance which is applicable to the claimant in respect of that period.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision for the second phase of the replacement of certain “existing benefits” by universal credit, a new benefit established by the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c.5). The existing benefits are income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, income support, housing benefit, working tax credit and child tax credit. The Regulations revoke the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/386), which related to the first phase of implementation of the change. They replace Part 3 of those Regulations, which dealt with the effect of transition to universal credit. It is intended that Part 2 of those Regulations, which dealt with entitlement to claim universal credit, will be replaced with provision made by order under section 150 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012.

Regulation 3 provides for revocation of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2013, subject to certain savings. These concern claimants who claimed universal credit before the date on which these Regulations come into force.

Part 2 of the Regulations makes provision about claimants who move from existing benefits to universal credit and, in particular, about how matters which are relevant to the award of an existing benefit are to have effect in relation to an award of universal credit.

Regulation 4 provides a discretion for the Secretary of State temporarily to exclude claims in any area, or in any category of case, if he considers that this is necessary in order to safeguard the efficient administration of universal credit, or to ensure the effective testing of administrative systems.

Regulation 5 prevents a claimant who is entitled to universal credit from also being entitled to income support, housing benefit, tax credits or state pension credit (subject to limited exceptions). Provision to similar effect is made in relation to “old style JSA” and “old style ESA” by virtue of Commencement Orders made under section 150(3) of the Act, which bring into force repeals of the legislation relating to those benefits. In these Regulations, references to “old style JSA” and “old style ESA” are to the versions of jobseeker’s allowance and employment and support allowance which include an income-based, or income-related, allowance.

Universal credit claimants are excluded from claiming income support, housing benefit or tax credits by regulation 6, except in certain cases where notice of intention to claim has previously been given, or a defective claim has previously been made, and entitlement will run from a date before the claimant became entitled to universal credit. Again, similar provision is made in relation to old style JSA and old style ESA by orders made under section 150(3) of the Act.

Under regulation 7, most awards of income support and housing benefit to a claimant who has formed a couple with a universal credit claimant will terminate on the day before the first date of entitlement to universal credit. Awards of tax credits will terminate in accordance with the Tax Credits Act 2002 (c.21) as a result of the claimant’s change of relationship status. Similar provision is made by regulation 8 in relation to other claimants, although in this case awards of tax credits also terminate, by virtue of regulation 8, on the day before the first date of entitlement to universal credit (or, where no award of universal credit is made, on the day before the first date on which the claimant would have been entitled to universal credit if all the applicable conditions had been met). Regulation 11 provides for a claimant to be treated as entitled to an award of a tax credit in certain cases, for the purposes of regulations 7 and 8. Entitlement to old style JSA and old style ESA will similarly terminate (in so far as the awards are of an income-based or income-related allowance) by virtue of orders made under section 150(3) of the Act.

Regulation 9 provides, in certain cases, for entitlement to some welfare benefits to be disregarded for the purposes of the benefit cap during the claimant’s first assessment period for universal credit. This will apply where a claimant is entitled to universal credit from a date before the date on which they made a claim, or were treated as making a claim, and they were previously entitled to housing benefit (which may already have been subject to the benefit cap). Overpayments of existing benefits (other than tax credits or joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance) which may arise on transition to universal credit will be off-set against entitlement to universal credit, under regulation 10.

Where a claim for universal credit is made by a claimant who was previously entitled to a tax credit, regulation 12 provides for the Tax Credits Act 2002 to apply to that claimant with certain modifications, so that any overpayments of tax credits may be treated as overpayments of universal credit and appropriate time limits apply in relation to the imposition of penalties.

Regulation 13 deals with appeals which are determined, and decisions about existing benefits which are revised or superseded, after the appellant has become entitled to universal credit. Entitlement to income support, housing benefit or a tax credit arising from an appeal, revision or supersession will terminate in accordance with regulation 7 or 8 and a decision made about entitlement to universal credit may be revised to take account of any findings of fact by the appeal body. Regulation 14 relates to the situation where a claimant successfully appeals a decision that they are not entitled to universal credit, or such a decision is revised, after the claimant has become entitled to income support, housing benefit or a tax credit. In this case, the award of the existing benefit terminates at the beginning of the first day of entitlement if there would otherwise be an overlap with the award of universal credit.

Where a claim for universal credit is made by a claimant who was previously entitled to an existing benefit, regulation 15 modifies the application of the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/380) in relation to the claimant. The effect is that the time for claiming universal credit may be extended by up to one month, if the claimant was not given advance notice of termination of the award of existing benefit. Under regulation 16, a person who has been appointed to act on behalf of a claimant in relation to existing benefits may be treated as having been appointed to act on their behalf in relation to universal credit and vice versa.

Where a claim for universal credit is made by a claimant who was entitled to an existing benefit before they became entitled to universal credit, regulation 17 allows the claimant to apply for an advance payment of universal credit during their first assessment period. Repayment is by reduction of subsequent payments. Where certain deductions were made from an award of an existing benefit, regulation 18 allows deductions in respect of the same items to be made from an award of universal credit without the need for consents which might otherwise be required.

Regulation 19 provides that a claimant may be treated as having limited capability for work, or limited capability for work and work-related activity, for the purposes of an award of universal credit, if they were previously entitled to the work-related activity component, or the support component, of old style ESA. Where a claimant was in the process of assessment of their capability for work in connection with an award of old style ESA at the time that award terminated, the assessment period for universal credit will be adjusted accordingly, under regulation 20. Similar provision is made in regulation 21, in respect of claimants who were not entitled to old style ESA, but who were entitled to credits of contributions and earnings on the grounds of limited capability for work.

Transition to universal credit from existing incapacity benefits is dealt with in regulations 22 to 25. Transition from income support awarded on the grounds of incapacity for work or disability is dealt with in regulation 22 and transition from incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance is dealt with in regulations 23 to 25. In both cases, the limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activity elements may be included in an award of universal credit with effect from the start of the first assessment period, if the claimant is subsequently assessed as having limited capability for work or, in the case of a claimant approaching pensionable age, is entitled to certain other benefits. Similar provision is made in regulations 26 and 27 in respect of claimants who were not entitled to an incapacity benefit, but who were entitled to credits of earnings under the Social Security (Credits) Regulations 1975 (S.I. 1975/556) on the grounds of incapacity for work.

Regulation 28 ensures that payments may not be made as part of an award of universal credit in respect of a young person who is entitled to existing benefits in their own right.

Where a universal credit claimant or their partner was previously entitled to old style JSA, old style ESA or income support, regulation 29 allows for any support for housing costs which was included in that award, or time spent waiting to qualify for such support, to be carried over to the award of universal credit, if the claimant is entitled to the universal credit housing element.

Regulations 30 to 34 deal with the treatment of any sanctions which have been imposed on awards of old style JSA and old style ESA, prior to transition to universal credit. Current sanctions will continue to have effect by way of deductions from the award of universal credit and past sanctions will be taken into account for the purposes of determining the sanction applicable to any future sanctionable failure. However, where there is a period of entitlement to an existing benefit between two periods of entitlement to universal credit, any sanctions arising prior to that intervening period will not be taken into account.

Where a claimant moves to universal credit within one month of the end of an award of an existing benefit and is subject to a loss of benefit penalty, regulations 35 and 36 provide that the penalty will in most cases continue on the basis of the rate applicable to the existing benefit for the remainder of the disqualification period. The usual rules relating to calculation of penalties within universal credit will not apply.

An assessment has been made of the impact of the introduction of universal credit. Copies of the impact assessment may be obtained from the Better Regulation Unit of the Department for Work and Pensions, 2D Caxton House, Tothill Street, London SW1 9NA or from the DWP website http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/legislation-and-key-documents/welfare-reform-act-2012/impact-assessments-and-equality/.