OpenLegislation

Welfare Reform Act 2009

2009 c. 24 · Enacted 12 November 2009 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 25 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 July 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 5(1)repealedWelfare Reform Act 2009 Sch. 7 Pt. 1
s. 3(1)repealedWelfare Reform Act 2009 Sch. 7 Pt. 1
Sch. 4 para. 9(3)(b)repealedWelfare Reform Act 2009 Sch. 7 Pt. 1
s. 29(1)word substitutedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 7 para. 14(b)
s. 29(1)words substitutedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 7 para. 14(c)
s. 31(1)words substitutedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 7 para. 15(2)(a)
s. 31(1)words substitutedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 7 para. 15(2)(b)
s. 32(2)words substitutedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 7 para. 16(2)(a)
s. 32(2)words insertedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 7 para. 16(2)(b)
s. 32(3)(a)-(d)substitutedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 7 para. 16(3)
s. 2repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 1
s. 31(2)words insertedWelfare Reform Act 2012 s. 54(7)
s. 4repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 1
s. 5repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 1
s. 8(2)(a)repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 1
s. 9repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 1
s. 34(1) (2)repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 1
s. 37(3)repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 1
Sch. 2repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 1
Sch. 4 para. 3repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 1
Sch. 7 Pt. 1repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 1
s. 14repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 9
s. 3(1) (2)repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 1
s. 8 headingword substitutedWelfare Reform Act 2012 s. 58(3)
s. 29(1)words substitutedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 7 para. 14(a)

An Act to amend the law relating to social security; to make provision enabling disabled people to be given greater control over the way in which certain public services are provided for them; to amend the law relating to child support; to make provision about the registration of births; and for connected purposes.

[12th November 2009]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Part 1: Social security
  2. “Work for your benefit” schemes etc.
  3. 1Schemes for assisting persons to obtain employment: “work for your benefit” schemes etc.
  4. Revised system of working-age benefits
  5. 2Work-related activity: income support claimants and partners of claimants
  6. 3Lone parents
  7. 4Entitlement to jobseeker's allowance without seeking employment etc. Not yet in force
  8. 5Couples where at least one member capable of work Not yet in force
  9. 6Statutory sick pay and employment and support allowance Not yet in force
  10. 7Transitional provision relating to sections 4 to 6 Not yet in force
  11. 8Parliamentary procedure: regulations imposing work-related activity requirements on lone parents of children under 7 Repealed
  12. Abolition of income support Not yet in force
  13. 9Abolition of income support Not yet in force
  14. Work-related activity for claimants of employment and support allowance
  15. 10Power to direct claimant to undertake specific work-related activity Repealed
  16. Jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance: drugs
  17. 11Claimants dependent on drugs etc. Repealed
  18. Contributory jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance
  19. 12Conditions for contributory jobseeker's allowance
  20. 13Conditions for contributory employment and support allowance
  21. Disability living allowance
  22. 14Mobility component
  23. Abolition of adult dependency increases
  24. 15Maternity allowance and carer's allowance
  25. External provider social loans and community care grants
  26. 16External provider social loans Not yet in force
  27. 17Power to restrict availability of social fund loans Not yet in force
  28. 18Supply of information to or by lenders making external provider social loans Not yet in force
  29. 19Community care grants relating to specified goods or services Not yet in force
  30. 20Community care grants: reviews and information Not yet in force
  31. 21Regulations relating to information: parliamentary control Not yet in force
  32. Payments on account Not yet in force
  33. 22Payments on account Not yet in force
  34. Up-rating of benefits
  35. 23Power to up-rate benefits following review in tax year 2009-10
  36. Benefit sanctions for offenders
  37. 24Loss of benefit provisions
  38. 25Jobseeker's allowance: sanctions for violent conduct etc. in connection with claim Not yet in force
  39. 26Repeal of sections 62 to 66 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000
  40. Pilot schemes
  41. 27State pension credit: pilot schemes
  42. 28Period for which pilot schemes have effect etc.
  43. Miscellaneous
  44. 29Exemption from jobseeking conditions for victims of domestic violence Repealed
  45. 30Good cause for failure to comply with regulations etc. Not yet in force
  46. 31Jobseekers' agreements and action plans: well-being of children Not yet in force
  47. 32Contracting out functions under Jobseekers Act 1995
  48. 33Attendance in connection with jobseeker's allowance: sanctions Repealed
  49. 34Social security information and employment or training information
  50. 35Persons under pensionable age to take part in work-focused interviews etc. Repealed
  51. 36Power to rename council tax benefit Not yet in force
  52. 37Minor amendments
  53. Part 2: Disabled people: right to control provision of services
  54. Introductory
  55. 38Purpose of Part 2
  56. 39Relevant services
  57. 40Relevant authority
  58. Power to make regulations
  59. 41Power to make provision enabling exercise of greater choice and control
  60. 42Provision that may be made about direct payments
  61. 43Exercise of rights on behalf of persons who lack capacity
  62. 44Pilot schemes
  63. Supplementary
  64. 45The appropriate authority by which regulations under section 41 are made
  65. 46Regulations under section 41: supplementary provisions
  66. 47Consultation
  67. 48Power to repeal exclusion of community care services
  68. 49Regulations and orders: control by Parliament or other legislature
  69. 50Interpretation of Part 2
  70. Part 3: Child maintenance
  71. 51Disqualification for holding etc. driving licence or travel authorisation Not yet in force
  72. 52Report on operation of driving licence amendments Not yet in force
  73. 53Report on operation of passport amendments Not yet in force
  74. 54Payments of child support maintenance
  75. 55Child support maintenance: offences relating to information
  76. Part 4: Birth registration
  77. 56Registration of births
  78. Part 5: General
  79. 57Consequential amendments of subordinate legislation
  80. 58Repeals and revocations
  81. 59Financial provisions
  82. 60Extent
  83. 61Commencement
  84. 62Short title
  85. Schedule 1: Amendments connected to section 4 Not yet in force
  86. Part 1: Amendments of Jobseekers Act 1995 Not yet in force
  87. Introduction Not yet in force
  88. 1Paragraph 1 Not yet in force
  89. Work-focused interviews etc. Not yet in force
  90. 2Paragraph 2 Not yet in force
  91. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
  92. Directions given by officers of the Secretary of State etc. Not yet in force
  93. 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
  94. 5Paragraph 5 Not yet in force
  95. 6Paragraph 6 Not yet in force
  96. 7Paragraph 7 Not yet in force
  97. Other amendments Not yet in force
  98. 8Paragraph 8 Not yet in force
  99. 9Paragraph 9 Not yet in force
  100. 10Paragraph 10 Not yet in force
  101. 11Paragraph 11 Not yet in force
  102. 12Paragraph 12 Not yet in force
  103. 13Paragraph 13 Not yet in force
  104. 14Paragraph 14 Not yet in force
  105. 15Paragraph 15 Not yet in force
  106. 16Paragraph 16 Not yet in force
  107. 17Paragraph 17 Not yet in force
  108. 18Paragraph 18 Not yet in force
  109. 19Paragraph 19 Not yet in force
  110. 20Paragraph 20 Not yet in force
  111. 21Paragraph 21 Not yet in force
  112. 22Paragraph 22 Not yet in force
  113. 23Paragraph 23 Not yet in force
  114. Part 2: Amendments of other Acts Not yet in force
  115. Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5) Not yet in force
  116. 24Paragraph 24 Not yet in force
  117. Social Security Act 1998 (c. 14) Not yet in force
  118. 25Paragraph 25 Not yet in force
  119. Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5) Not yet in force
  120. 26Paragraph 26 Not yet in force
  121. Schedule 2: Abolition of income support: consequential amendments Not yet in force
  122. Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43) Not yet in force
  123. 1Paragraph 1 Not yet in force
  124. Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53) Not yet in force
  125. 2Paragraph 2 Not yet in force
  126. Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5) Not yet in force
  127. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
  128. Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c. 14) Not yet in force
  129. 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
  130. Jobseekers Act 1995 (c. 18) Not yet in force
  131. 5Paragraph 5 Not yet in force
  132. 6Paragraph 6 Not yet in force
  133. 7Paragraph 7 Not yet in force
  134. Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (c. 33) Not yet in force
  135. 8Paragraph 8 Not yet in force
  136. Social Security Fraud Act 2001 (c. 11) Not yet in force
  137. 9Paragraph 9 Not yet in force
  138. 10Paragraph 10 Not yet in force
  139. 11Paragraph 11 Not yet in force
  140. Courts Act 2003 (c. 39) Not yet in force
  141. 12Paragraph 12 Not yet in force
  142. 13Paragraph 13 Not yet in force
  143. 14Paragraph 14 Not yet in force
  144. Child Trust Funds Act 2004 (c. 6) Not yet in force
  145. 15Paragraph 15 Not yet in force
  146. Age-Related Payments Act 2004 (c. 10) Not yet in force
  147. 16Paragraph 16 Not yet in force
  148. Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5) Not yet in force
  149. 17Paragraph 17 Not yet in force
  150. Schedule 3: Claimants dependent on drugs etc. Repealed
  151. Part 1: Jobseeker's allowance Repealed
  152. Requirements imposed on claimants dependent on drugs etc. Repealed
  153. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  154. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  155. Consequential amendments Repealed
  156. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  157. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  158. Report on initial operation of drugs provisions Repealed
  159. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  160. Part 2: Employment and support allowance Repealed
  161. Requirements imposed on persons dependent on drugs etc. Repealed
  162. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  163. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  164. Consequential amendments Repealed
  165. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  166. Report on the initial operation of drugs provisions Repealed
  167. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  168. Schedule 4: Loss of benefit provisions: further amendments
  169. Part 1: Further amendments of Social Security Fraud Act 2001
  170. 1Paragraph 1
  171. 2Paragraph 2
  172. 3Paragraph 3
  173. 4Paragraph 4
  174. 5Paragraph 5
  175. 6Paragraph 6
  176. 7Paragraph 7
  177. 8Paragraph 8
  178. Part 2: Related amendments of other Acts
  179. Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5)
  180. 9Paragraph 9
  181. Social Security Act 1998 (c. 14)
  182. 10Paragraph 10
  183. Schedule 5: Section 51: consequential amendments etc. Not yet in force
  184. Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48) Not yet in force
  185. 1Paragraph 1 Not yet in force
  186. 2Paragraph 2 Not yet in force
  187. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
  188. 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
  189. 5Paragraph 5 Not yet in force
  190. 6Paragraph 6 Not yet in force
  191. 7Paragraph 7 Not yet in force
  192. 8Paragraph 8 Not yet in force
  193. 9Paragraph 9 Not yet in force
  194. Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (c. 6) Not yet in force
  195. 10Paragraph 10 Not yet in force
  196. Schedule 6: Registration of births
  197. Part 1: Amendments of Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953
  198. 1Paragraph 1
  199. 2Paragraph 2 Not yet in force
  200. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
  201. 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
  202. 5Paragraph 5
  203. 6Paragraph 6
  204. 7Paragraph 7
  205. 8Paragraph 8
  206. 9Paragraph 9
  207. 10Paragraph 10 Not yet in force
  208. 11Paragraph 11 Not yet in force
  209. 12Paragraph 12
  210. 13Paragraph 13 Not yet in force
  211. 14Paragraph 14
  212. 15Paragraph 15 Not yet in force
  213. 16Paragraph 16 Not yet in force
  214. 17Paragraph 17
  215. 18Paragraph 18 Not yet in force
  216. Part 2: Other amendments
  217. Perjury Act 1911 (c. 6) Not yet in force
  218. 19Paragraph 19 Not yet in force
  219. Population (Statistics) Act 1938 (c. 12)
  220. 20Paragraph 20
  221. Children Act 1989 (c. 41) Not yet in force
  222. 21Paragraph 21 Not yet in force
  223. 22Paragraph 22 Not yet in force
  224. Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48) Not yet in force
  225. 23Paragraph 23 Not yet in force
  226. Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (S.I. 1991/2628 (N.I. 23)) Not yet in force
  227. 24Paragraph 24 Not yet in force
  228. Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 36) Not yet in force
  229. 25Paragraph 25 Not yet in force
  230. Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2)) Not yet in force
  231. 26Paragraph 26 Not yet in force
  232. Schedule 7: Repeals and revocations
  233. 1Abolition of income support Not yet in force
  234. 2Abolition of adult dependency increases
  235. 3Social security: other repeals and revocations
  236. 4Child maintenance Not yet in force
  237. 5Birth registration Not yet in force