# The Universal Credit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2013, Note: Explanatory note


(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/376), which contain provisions in relation to universal credit, a benefit established under the Welfare Reform Act (c.5) 2012. They also amend the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/386), which make provision for the first phase of the introduction of universal credit.
Regulation 2 sets out some changes to the size criteria that are applied in the calculation of the housing costs element in Schedule 4 to the Universal Credit Regulations 2013. In particular:
certain foster parents, as well as adopters who have a child placed with them prior to adoption, will be entitled to one extra bedroom for the purposes of the size criteria assessment;
any person who is the child or step-child of a renter or joint renters and usually lives with them, but is in the armed forces and away on operations will (as long as they intend to return to live at the property) continue to be treated as part of the household during any such period of absence, and no housing costs contribution will be deducted in relation to them during any such absence.
Regulation 3 specifies additional requirements which must be met in order for a person to claim universal credit during the first phase of the introduction of Universal Credit. A person may not make such a claim if a person who lives in their household is a member of the armed forces who is away from home in connection with that role. A person is also excluded from making a claim if they are a foster parent.
An assessment has been made of the impact of the introduction of universal credit. Copies of the impact assessment may be obtained from the Better Regulation Unit of the Department for Work and Pensions, 2D Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1 9NA or from the DWP website at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/legislation-and-key-documents/welfare-reform-act-2012/impact-assessments-and-equality. An updated impact assessment to cover the application of the size criteria to the social rented sector was published on 28 June 2012 and is available on the DWP website athttp://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011-ia.pdf

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/803/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/universal-credit-miscellaneous-amendments-regulations-2013/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.