{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/universal-credit-regulations-2013/regulation-2",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/universal-credit-regulations-2013/regulation-2.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2013/376",
  "legislation_title": "The Universal Credit Regulations 2013",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/universal-credit-regulations-2013",
  "path": "regulation/2",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "2",
  "heading": "Interpretation",
  "text": "In these Regulations—\n“the Act” means the Welfare Reform Act 2012;\n...\n“adopter” has the meaning in regulation 89(3)(a);\n“adult disability payment” has the meaning given in regulation 2 of the Disability Assistance for Working Age People (Scotland) Regulations 2022;\n“attendance allowance” means—\n(a)an attendance allowance under section 64 of the Contributions and Benefits Act;\n(b)an increase of disablement pension under section 104 or 105 of that Act (increases where constant attendance needed and for exceptionally severe disablement);\n(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(d)a payment by virtue of article 14, 15, 16, 43 or 44 of the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme 1983 or any analogous payment;\n(e)any payment based on the need for attendance which is paid as an addition to a war disablement pension;\n(f)armed forces independence payment under the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011;\n...\n“blind” means certified as severely sight impaired or blind by a consultant ophthalmologist;\n“care leaver” has the meaning in regulation 8;\n“carer's allowance” means a carer's allowance under section 70 of the Contributions and Benefits Act ;\n“carer element” has the meaning in regulation 29;\n“carer support payment” means the carer support payment component of carer support given in accordance with the Carer’s Assistance (Carer Support Payment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023;\n“child disability payment” has the meaning given in regulation 2 of the DACYP Regulations;\n“childcare costs element” has the meaning in regulation 31;\n“child element” has the meaning in regulation 24;\n“close relative”, in relation to a person, means—\n(a)a parent, parent-in-law, son, son-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, step-parent, step-son, step-daughter, brother or sister; and\n(b)if any of the above is a member of a couple, the other member of the couple;\n“confinement” has the meaning in regulation 8;\n“Contributions and Benefits Act” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 ;\n“course of advanced education” has the meaning in regulation 12;\n“the DACYP Regulations” means the Disability Assistance for Children and Young People (Scotland) Regulations 2021;\n“disability living allowance” means an allowance under section 71 of the Contributions and Benefits Act;\n“earned income” has the meaning in Chapter 2 of Part 6;\n“EEA Regulations” means the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 and references to the EEA Regulations are to be read with Schedule 4 to the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020(Consequential, Saving, Transitional and Transitory Provisions) Regulations 2020.;\n“employment and support allowance” means an allowance under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 as amended by Schedule 3 and Part 1 of Schedule 14 to the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (removing references to an income-related allowance);\n“enactment” includes an enactment comprised in, or an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament or the National Assembly of Wales;\n“ESA Regulations” means the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2013 ;\n“expected number of hours per week” has the meaning in regulation 88;\n“foster parent” means—\n(a)in relation to England, a person with whom a child is placed under the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010;\n(b)in relation to Wales, a person with whom a child is placed under the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (Wales) Regulations 2015;\n(c)in relation to Scotland, a foster carer or kinship carer with whom a child is placed under the Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 ;\n“grant” has the meaning in regulation 68;\n“health care professional” means (except in regulation 98)—\n(a)a registered medical practitioner;\n(b)a registered nurse; or\n(c)an occupational therapist or physiotherapist registered with a regulatory body established by Order in Council under section 60 of the Health Act 1999 ;\n“housing costs element” has the meaning in regulation 25;\n“individual threshold” has the meaning in regulation 90(2);\n“industrial injuries benefit” means a benefit under Part 5 of the Contributions and Benefits Act;\n“ITEPA” means the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 ;\n“jobseeker's allowance” means an allowance under the Jobseekers Act 1995 as amended by Part 1 of Schedule 14 to the Act (removing references to an income-based allowance);\n“local authority” means—\n(a)in relation to England, a county council, a district council, a parish council, a London borough council, the Common Council of the City of London or the Council of the Isles of Scilly;\n(b)in relation to Wales, a county council, a county borough council or a community council;\n(c)in relation to Scotland, a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 ;\n“local welfare provision” means occasional financial or other assistance given by a local authority, the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers, or a person authorised to exercise any function of, or provide a service to, them, to or in respect of individuals for the purpose of—\n(a)meeting, or helping to meet, an immediate short term need—\n(i)arising out of an exceptional event, or exceptional circumstances; and\n(ii)that requires to be met in order to avoid a risk to the well-being of an individual; or\n(b)enabling individuals to establish or maintain a settled home, where those individuals have been or, without the assistance, might otherwise be—\n(i)in prison, hospital, a residential care establishment or other institution; or\n(ii)homeless or otherwise living an unsettled way of life;\n“LCWRA element” has the meaning in regulation 27;\n“looked after by a local authority” in relation to a child or young person means a child or young person who is looked after by a local authority within the meaning of section 22 of the Children Act 1989 , section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 or section 74 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014;\n“maternity allowance” means a maternity allowance under section 35 or 35B of the Contributions and Benefits Act;\n“Medical Evidence Regulations” means the Social Security (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1976 ;\n“monthly earnings” has the meaning in regulation 90(6);\n“national insurance contribution” means a contribution under Part 1 of the Contributions and Benefits Act;\n“National Minimum Wage Regulations” means the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015;\n“Scottish adult disability living allowance” has the meaning given in regulation 2 of the Disability Assistance (Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance) Regulations 2025;\n“... statutory paternity pay” means ... statutory paternity pay under Part 12ZA of the Contributions and Benefits Act;\n“paid work” means work done for payment or in expectation of payment and does not include being engaged by a charitable or voluntary organisation, or as a volunteer, in circumstances in which the payment received by or due to be paid to the person is in respect of expenses;\n“partner” means (except in regulation 77) the other member of a couple;\n“pension age disability payment” has the meaning given in regulation 2 of the Disability Assistance for Older People (Scotland) Regulations 2024;\n“personal independence payment” means an allowance under Part 4 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012;\n“pre-2026 claimant” has the meaning in regulation 27A(1);\n“prisoner” means—\n(a)a person who is detained in custody pending trial or sentence upon conviction or under a sentence imposed by a court; or\n(b)is on temporary release in accordance with the provisions of the Prison Act 1952 or the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 ,\nother than a person who is detained in hospital under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983 or, in Scotland, under the provisions of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 or the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 ;\n“qualifying young person” has the meaning in regulation 5;\n“redundancy” has the meaning in section 139(1) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 ;\n...\n“regular and substantial caring responsibilities for a severely disabled person” has the meaning in regulation 30;\n“relevant childcare” has the meaning in regulation 35;\n“responsible for a child or qualifying young person” has the meaning in regulation 4;\n“severe conditions criteria claimant” has the meaning in regulation 40A(2);\n“statutory adoption pay” means a payment under Part 12ZB of the Contributions Benefits Act ;\n“statutory maternity pay” means a payment under Part 12 of the Contributions and Benefits Act;\n“statutory neonatal care pay” means a payment under Part 12ZE of the Contributions and Benefits Act;\n“statutory parental bereavement pay” means statutory parental bereavement pay payable in accordance with Part 12ZD of the Contributions and Benefits Act;\n“statutory shared parental pay” means statutory shared parental pay payable in accordance with Part 12ZC of the Contributions and Benefits Act;\n“statutory sick pay” means a payment under Part 11 of the Contributions and Benefits Act;\n“step-parent”, in relation to a child or qualifying young person (“A”), means a person who is not A’s parent but—\n(a)is a member of a couple, the other member of which is a parent of A, where both are responsible for A; or\n(b)was previously a member of a couple, the other member of which was a parent of A, where immediately prior to ceasing to be a member of that couple the person was, and has since continued to be, responsible for A.\n“student loan” has the meaning in regulation 68;\n“terminally ill” means suffering from a progressive disease where death in consequence of that disease can reasonably be expected within 12 months;\n“total outstanding reduction period” has the meaning in regulation 101(5);\n“trade dispute” has the meaning in section 244 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 ;\n“unearned income” has the meaning in Chapter 3 of Part 6;\n“war disablement pension” means any retired pay, pension or allowance payable in respect of disablement under an instrument specified in section 639(2) of ITEPA;\n...\n“widowed mother's allowance” means an allowance under section 37 of the Contributions and Benefits Act;\n“widowed parent's allowance” means an allowance under section 39A of the Contributions and Benefits Act ;\n“widow's pension” means a pension under section 39 of the Contributions and Benefits Act.",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 omitted (5.4.2015) by virtue of The Shared Parental Leave and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3255), arts. 1(3), 28(2)(a) (with art. 35(1))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (29.4.2013) by The Universal Credit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/803), regs. 1, 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (21.3.2022) by The Social Security (Disability Assistance for Working Age People) (Consequential Amendments) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/177), arts. 1(2), 13(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 omitted (29.10.2013) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1508), regs. 1(2)(b), 3(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (8.4.2013) by virtue of The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme (Consequential Provisions: Subordinate Legislation) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/591), regs. 2(2), 7, Sch. para. 54(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 omitted (coming into force in accordance with arts. 1-3 of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Pensions Act 2014 (Consequential, Supplementary and Incidental Amendments) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/422), arts. 1(2), 43(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Universal Credit and Miscellaneous Amendments (No.2) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/2888), regs. 1(1), 3(1)(a)(ii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (19.11.2023) by The Carer’s Assistance (Carer Support Payment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1218), arts. 1(2), 23(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 substituted (15.3.2026) by The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Carer’s Assistance) (Consequential Modifications) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/246), arts. 1(2), 25"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (26.7.2021) by The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Disability Assistance for Children and Young People) (Consequential Modifications) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/786), art. 1(2), Sch. 11 para. 2(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (26.7.2021) by The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Disability Assistance for Children and Young People) (Consequential Modifications) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/786), art. 1(2), Sch. 11 para. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 substituted (7.5.2019) by The Social Security (Income-related Benefits) (Updating and Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/872), regs. 1, 8(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 (Consequential, Saving, Transitional and Transitory Provisions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1309), regs. 1(2), 75(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (28.4.2014) by The Universal Credit and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/597), regs. 1, 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F15",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 substituted (1.4.2024) by The Social Security and Universal Credit (Migration of Tax Credit Claimants and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/341), regs. 1(2), 7(2)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F16",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 substituted (1.4.2024) by The Social Security and Universal Credit (Migration of Tax Credit Claimants and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/341), regs. 1(2), 7(2)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F17",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (4.5.2022) by The Universal Credit (Local Welfare Provision Disregard) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/448), regs. 1(1), 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F18",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 substituted (3.4.2017) by The Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit (Miscellaneous Amendments and Transitional and Savings Provisions) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/204), regs. 1, 4(2) (with Sch. 2 paras. 8-15)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F19",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 substituted (26.5.2016) by The Universal Credit (Care Leavers and Looked After Children) Amendment Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/543), regs. 1, 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F20",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (18.5.2014) by The Social Security (Maternity Allowance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/884), regs. 1, 6(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F21",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Universal Credit and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1754), regs. 1(1), 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F22",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (25.7.2016) by The Social Security (Jobseekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/678), regs. 1, 5(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F23",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (21.3.2025) by The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Disability Assistance) (Consequential Amendments) Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/227), arts. 1(1), 15(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F24",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 omitted (5.4.2015) by virtue of The Shared Parental Leave and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3255), arts. 1(3), 28(2)(b) (with art. 35(1))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F25",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (21.10.2024) by The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Disability Assistance) (Consequential Amendments) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/919), arts. 1(1), 14(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F26",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (6.4.2026 with effect in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), s. 2(3), Sch. 1 para. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F27",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 omitted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Universal Credit and Miscellaneous Amendments (No.2) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/2888), regs. 1(1), 3(1)(a)(i)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F28",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (6.4.2025) by The Neonatal Care Leave and Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/201), regs. 1(2), 19(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F29",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (6.4.2020) by The Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/354), regs. 1, 28(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F30",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (31.12.2014) by The Shared Parental Leave and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3255), arts. 1(2), 28(2)(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F31",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 inserted (6.4.2017) by The Social Security (Restrictions on Amounts for Children and Qualifying Young Persons) Amendment Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/376), regs. 1, 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F32",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 substituted (4.4.2022) by The Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (Terminal Illness) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/260), regs. 1(2), 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F33",
      "text": "Words in reg. 2 omitted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(3) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Universal Credit and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1754), regs. 1(1), 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M1",
      "text": "S.I. 1983/686. Article 14 was substituted, and articles 15 and 16 were amended, by S.I. 2001/1420."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M2",
      "text": "Section 70 has been amended by S.I. 1994/2556 and S.I. 2002/1457."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M3",
      "text": "1992 c.4."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M4",
      "text": "2007 c.5."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M5",
      "text": "S.I.2013/379"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M6",
      "text": "S.S.I. 2009/210."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M7",
      "text": "1999 c.8."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M8",
      "text": "2003 c.1."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M9",
      "text": "1995 c.18."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M10",
      "text": "1994 c.39."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M11",
      "text": "1989 c.41."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M12",
      "text": "S.I. 1976/615."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M13",
      "text": "1952 c.52."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M14",
      "text": "1989 c.45."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M15",
      "text": "1983 c.20."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M16",
      "text": "2003 asp13."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M17",
      "text": "1995 c.46."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M18",
      "text": "1996 c.18."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M19",
      "text": "Part 12ZB was inserted by section 4 of the Employment Act 2002 (c.22)."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M20",
      "text": "1992 c.52."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M21",
      "text": "Section 39A was inserted by section 55(2) of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c.30)."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Reg. 2 applied (with modifications) (31.12.2020) by The Citizens' Rights (Application Deadline and Temporary Protection) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1209), regs. 1(1), 3(3), 4(4), 11(t)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/376/regulation/2",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-05T03:36:10.415553+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}