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The Housing Benefit (Earned Income Disregards) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

S.I. 2026/753 · Made 6 July 2026 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 5 October 2026.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Made at 9.00 a.m. on 6th July 2026

Laid before Parliament at 3.00 p.m. on 6th July 2026

Coming into force 5th October 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 123(1)(d), 136(3) and (5)(b), 137(1) and 175(1) and (3) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992f1.

In accordance with section 173(1)(b) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (“the Administration Act”)f2, the Social Security Advisory Committee has agreed that the proposals in respect of these Regulations should not be referred to it.

In accordance with section 176(1)(a) of the Administration Actf3, the Secretary of State has consulted with organisations appearing to the Secretary of State to be representative of the authorities concerned.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

1992 c. 4; section 137(1) is cited for the meaning it gives to “prescribed”; section 175(1) was amended by paragraph 29 of Schedule 3 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2).

f2

1992 c. 5.

f3

Section 176(1)(a) was amended by paragraph 23 of Schedule 9 to the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c. 14) and was repealed, to the extent that it related to council tax benefit, by Part 1 of Schedule 14 to the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5).

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement and extent
  2. 2Amendments to the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006
  3. Signature
  4. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement and extentI1

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Housing Benefit (Earned Income Disregards) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 5th October 2026.

(2)

These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

2Amendments to the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006I1

(1)

The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006f1 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 36 (calculation of net earnings of employed earners), in paragraph (2), after “paragraphs 1 to 14”, insert “and 18”.

(3)

In regulation 38 (calculation of net profit of self-employed earners), in paragraph (2), after “paragraphs 1 to 14”, insert “and 18”.

F1(4)

In Schedule 4 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings)—

(a)

In paragraph 17, in sub-paragraph (3)(a), after “paragraphs 3 to 10A” insert “and 18”;

(b)

After paragraph 17, insert—

“18
(1)

Where—

(a)

the claimant is resident in accommodation specified in paragraph 3A or paragraph 3B of Schedule 1 to the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (meaning of payments in respect of accommodation); and

(b)

the claimant, or, if the claimant has a partner, the claimant or their partner, is an employed earner or self-employed earner,

the amount specified in sub-paragraph (2); but, notwithstanding regulation 25 (calculation of income and capital of members of claimant's family and of a polygamous marriage), if this paragraph applies to a claimant, where the claimant has a partner, it shall not apply to their partner except where, and to the extent that, the earnings of the claimant which are to be disregarded under this paragraph are less than the amount specified in sub-paragraph (2).

(2)

Where the claimant—

(a)

is a single claimant who—

(i)

has not attained the age of 25 years, £61.41;

(ii)

has attained the age of 25 years, £77.73;

(b)

is a lone parent who—

(i)

has not attained the age of 25 years, £61.41;

(ii)

has attained the age of 25 years, £77.73;

(c)

has a partner, where—

(i)

the claimant and their partner have not attained the age of 18 years, £97.33;

(ii)

the claimant or their partner has attained the age of 18 years but the claimant and their partner have not attained the age of 25 years, £61.53;

(iii)

the claimant or their partner has attained the age of 25 years, £119.70.”.

Signature

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

Stephen Timms

Minister of State

Department for Work and Pensions

at 9.00 a.m. on 6th July 2026

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/213) to extend the sums to be disregarded when calculating the earnings of a person claiming housing benefit (“the claimant”).

Regulation 2 amends Schedule 4 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings) to insert additional sums that are to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings where the claimant is resident in specified accommodation or temporary accommodation (the definitions of both types of accommodation are contained in Schedule 1 to the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/376)). The sums to be disregarded differ depending on whether the claimant has not attained the age of 18 years, or not attained the age of 25 years, and those who have, and is a single claimant, or part of a couple.

These amendments apply to working-age housing benefit only and no changes are made to the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/214).

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