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

S.I. 2026/316 · Made 19 March 2026

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

SOCIAL SECURITY

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 1992f1, sections 4(5), 12(1) and (4)(b), 35 and 36(2) of the Jobseekers Act 1995f2 and paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 6 to the Welfare Reform Act 2012f3.

This instrument contains only regulations made consequential upon section 1 of the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026f4 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 1992f5, 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.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

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

f2

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

f3

2012 c. 5.

f4

2026 c. 13.

f5

1992 c. 5.

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement and extent
  2. 2Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006
  3. 3Amendment of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014
  4. 4Amendment of the Social Security (Restrictions on Amounts for Children and Qualifying Young Persons) Amendment Regulations 2017
  5. Signature
  6. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement and extent

(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.

2Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006

(1)

The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006f1 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).

3Amendment of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014

In the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014f1 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).

4Amendment of the Social Security (Restrictions on Amounts for Children and Qualifying Young Persons) Amendment Regulations 2017

In the Social Security (Restrictions on Amounts for Children and Qualifying Young Persons) Amendment Regulations 2017f1 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).

Signature

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.