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Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 316

SOCIAL SECURITY

The Social Security (Removal of Two Child Limit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026

Made

at 11.00 a.m. on 19th March 2026

Laid before Parliament

at 2.45 p.m. on 19th March 2026

Coming into force

6th April 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 123(1)(a) and (d), 135(1), 136(3) and (5)(b), 137 and 175(1), (3) and (4) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992(1), sections 4(5), 12(1) and (4)(b), 35 and 36(2) of the Jobseekers Act 1995(2) and paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 6 to the Welfare Reform Act 2012(3).

This instrument contains only regulations made consequential upon section 1 of the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026(4) and is made before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the coming into force of that section. Therefore, in accordance with section 173(5)(b) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992(5), these Regulations are not required to be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

In respect of the provisions in these Regulations relating to housing benefit, in accordance with section 176(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, the Secretary of State has consulted with organisations appearing to the Secretary of State to be representative of the authorities concerned.

Citation, commencement and extent

1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Removal of Two Child Limit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 6th April 2026.

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

Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006

1. —(1) The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006(6) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 22 (applicable amounts)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(b) for “up to two individuals who are either children or young persons and” substitute “children or young persons”;

(b) omit paragraphs (2) to (5).

(3) in regulation 23 (polygamous marriages)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(c) for “up to two individuals who are either children or young persons and” substitute “children or young persons”;

(b) omit paragraphs (2) to (5).

Amendment of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014

1. In the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014(7) omit—

(a) regulation 41 (availability of the child element where maximum exceeded – continuation of exception from a previous award of child tax credit, income support or old style JSA);

(b) regulation 42 (evidence for non-consensual conception where claimant previously had an award of child tax credit).

Amendment of the Social Security (Restrictions on Amounts for Children and Qualifying Young Persons) Amendment Regulations 2017

1. In the Social Security (Restrictions on Amounts for Children and Qualifying Young Persons) Amendment Regulations 2017(8) omit—

(a) regulation 5 (restrictions on amounts for children and young persons - consequential changes to the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987);

(b) regulation 6 (restrictions on amounts for children and young persons - consequential changes to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996);

(c) regulation 9 (housing benefit – transitional provisions for restrictions on amounts for children and young persons).

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 19th March 2026

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make amendments consequential on the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026 (c. 13). They come into force on the same day as that Act, 6th April 2026.

Regulation 2 amends the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/213) by removing the provisions that apply the two child limit to housing benefit.

Regulation 3 omits two regulations in the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1230) that make transitional provision in relation to claimants with more than two children on moving to universal credit.

Regulation 4 omits regulations 5, 6 and 9 of the Social Security (Restrictions on Amounts for Children and Qualifying Young Persons) Regulations 2017. Regulations 5 and 6 modify the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1967) and the Jobseekers Allowance Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/207) by introducing a maximum of two children in the applicable amount in relation to those benefits. Regulation 9 is a transitional provision relating to the application of the two child limit to housing benefit.

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

(1) 1992 c. 4. Section 137 is cited for the meaning of “prescribed”.

(2) 1995 c. 18. Section 35 is cited for the meaning of “prescribed” and “regulations”.

(3) 2012 c. 5.

(4) 2026 c. 13.

(5) 1992 c. 5.

(6) S.I. 2006/213; amended by S.I. 2017/376. There are other amending instruments which are not relevant to these Regulations.

(7) S.I. 2014/1230; amended by S.I. 2017/376.

(8) S.I. 2017/376.

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