Universal Credit, PIP and ESA Amendment Regulations 2026

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 395

SOCIAL SECURITY

The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Made

at 11.00 a.m. on 9th April 2026

Laid before Parliament

at 2.00 p.m. on 9th April 2026

Coming into force

30th April 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 8(1) and (2), 9(1) and (2), and 25(2), (3) and (5) of the Welfare Reform Act 2007(1) and sections 37(3) and (4), 42(1) to (3), 80(1) and (3), and 94(1) to (3) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012(2).

In accordance with section 172(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992(3), the Secretary of State has referred the proposals in respect of these Regulations to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

Citation, commencement and extent

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

(2) Any amendment made by these Regulations has the same extent as the provision amended.

Amendment of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013

1. In regulation 41 of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (when an assessment may be carried out)(4)—

(a) in paragraph (1), for “(2)” substitute “(1A)”;

(b) after paragraph (1), insert—

“ (1A) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), doing work for payment or in expectation of payment, or doing voluntary work, is not a relevant change of circumstances. ”.

Amendment of the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013

1. In regulation 11 of the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013 (re-determination of ability to carry out activities)(5)—

(a) the existing provision is renumbered as paragraph (1);

(b) in paragraph (1), for “Where” substitute “Subject to paragraph (2), where”;

(c) after paragraph (1) insert—

“ (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), doing work for payment or in expectation of payment, or doing voluntary work, is not a reason for a fresh determination. ”.

Amendment of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2013

1. —(1) The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2013(6) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 15 (determination of limited capability for work) after paragraph (8), insert—

“ (9) For the purposes of paragraph (8)(a), doing work for payment or in expectation of payment, or doing voluntary work, is not a relevant change of circumstances. ”.

(3) In regulation 30 (determination of limited capability for work-related activity) after paragraph (5), insert—

“ (5A) For the purposes of paragraph (5)(a), doing work for payment or in expectation of payment, or doing voluntary work, is not a relevant change of circumstances. ”.

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

Stephen Timms

Minister of State

Department for Work and Pensions

at 11.00 a.m. on 9th April 2026

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/376) (“ the UC Regulations 2013 ”), the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/377) (“ the PIP Regulations 2013 ”) and the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/379) (“ the ESA Regulations 2013 ”).

Regulations 2 and 4 amend regulation 41 of the UC Regulations 2013 and regulations 15 and 30 of the ESA Regulations 2013 respectively, which make provision for assessments to be carried out to determine if a person has limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activity. Where there has been a previous determination, an assessment may be carried out if the Secretary of State wishes to determine if there has been a relevant change of circumstances in relation to the claimant’s physical or mental condition. New paragraphs are inserted into those regulations making it clear that doing work for payment or in expectation of payment, or doing voluntary work, is not a relevant change of circumstances for that purpose.

Regulation 3 amends regulation 11 of the PIP Regulations 2013, which makes provision for fresh assessments to be carried out to re-determine if a claimant continues to have limited ability or severely limited ability to carry out either or both daily living activities or mobility activities in accordance with regulation 4. Regulation 11 gives the Secretary of State the power to do this for any reason and at any time. A new paragraph (2) is inserted which provides that doing work for payment or in expectation of payment, or doing voluntary work, will not be a reason for that purpose.

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

(1) 2007 c. 5.

(2) 2012 c. 5.

(3) 1992 c. 5.

(4) S.I. 2013/376, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

(5) S.I. 2013/377.

(6) S.I. 2013/379.

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