# The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2026 S.I. 2026/218 · made 4 March 2026 This instrument contains provisions necessary to give full effect to the 2026 benefits and pensions up-rating exercise. Made under: Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (Section 70, Section 113, Section 175); Social Security Administration Act 1992 (Section 5, Section 155, Section 189); Pensions Act 2014 (Section 53, Section 54) PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-benefits-up-rating-regulations-2026/pdf/uksi_20260218_en.pdf; UK Explanatory Memorandum https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-benefits-up-rating-regulations-2026/pdf/uksiem_20260218_en_001.pdf ## Introductory text SOCIAL SECURITY Made 4th March 2026 Laid before Parliament 6th March 2026 Coming into force 6th April 2026 The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 70(8), 113(1)(a) and 175(3) and (4) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, sections 5(1)(p), 155(3) and 189(4) and (5) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 and sections 53 and 54(5) of the Pensions Act 2014. These Regulations contain provisions in consequence of an order under sections 150 and 150A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. The Social Security Advisory Committee has agreed that proposals in respect of these Regulations should not be referred to it. ## 1 Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2026 and come into force on 6th April 2026. (2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland, subject as follows. (3) Regulation 2 (insofar as it applies to a benefit which is devolved under Part 3 of the Scotland Act 2016) and regulation 4 extend to England and Wales only. (4) The revocation under regulation 6 has the same extent as the provisions that are revoked. (5) In these Regulations, “the Up-rating Order” means the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026. ## 2 Exceptions relating to payment of additional benefit by virtue of the Up-rating Order Section 155(3) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (effect of alteration of rates of benefit under Parts 2 to 5 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992) does not apply if a question arises as to either— (a) the weekly rate at which the benefit is payable by virtue of the Up-rating Order, or (b) whether the conditions for receipt of the benefit at the altered rate are satisfied, until that question has been determined in accordance with the provisions of the Social Security Act 1998. ## 3 Persons not ordinarily resident in Great Britain Regulation 5 of the Social Security Benefit (Persons Abroad) Regulations 1975 (application of disqualification in respect of up-rating of benefit) and regulation 21 of the State Pension Regulations 2015 (entitlement to state pension for overseas residents) applies to any additional benefit payable by virtue of the Up-rating Order and to any up-rating increase as defined in section 22(1) of the Pensions Act 2014 respectively. ## 4 Amendment of the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Regulations 1976 In regulation 8(1) of the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Regulations 1976 (circumstances in which a person is or is not to be treated as gainfully employed) for “£196”, in both places where it occurs, substitute “£204”. ## 5 Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 In paragraph 4(2A) of Schedule 9 to the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 (deductions from benefit and direct payment to third parties) for “£32.30”, in each place where it occurs, substitute “£33.55”. ## 6 Revocation The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2025 are revoked. ## Signature Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Stephen Timms Minister of State Department for Work and Pensions 4th March 2026 ## Explanatory note (This note is not part of the Regulations) This instrument contains provisions necessary to give full effect to the 2026 benefits and pensions up-rating exercise. Regulation 2 provides that where a question has arisen about the effect of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/148) on a benefit already in payment, the altered rates will not apply until that question is determined by the Secretary of State, the First-tier Tribunal or the Upper Tribunal. Regulation 3 applies the provisions of regulation 5 of the Social Security Benefit (Persons Abroad) Regulations 1975 (S.I. 1975/563) and regulation 21 of the State Pension Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/173) so as to restrict the application of the increases specified in the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 in cases where the beneficiary is not ordinarily resident in Great Britain. Regulation 4 increases from £196 to £204 the amount which a person eligible for payment of carer’s allowance can earn in the immediately preceding week without being deemed to be gainfully employed and, therefore, losing their entitlement to carer’s allowance. The Social Security Amendment (Carer’s Allowance) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2497) replace references to “invalid care allowance” with references to “carer’s allowance” in certain legislative provisions, but “Invalid Care Allowance” remains part of the title of the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Regulations 1976 (S.I. 1976/409) for statutory purposes. Regulation 5 increases from £32.30 to £33.55 the amount allowed for personal expenses for a person in certain accommodation, where that person’s benefit is paid to the accommodation provider. Regulation 6 revokes the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/352). A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, public or voluntary sector is foreseen. --- Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/218 (the official version) Page: https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-benefits-up-rating-regulations-2026 Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.