Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1230) (“the 2014 Regulations”) and the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/376) (“the 2013 Regulations”). They simplify and extend the transitional protection for children and qualifying young persons born before 6^th April 2017, the date when limits in relation to the child element in universal credit came into force.

Regulation 2 revokes regulation 39 of the 2014 Regulations, which contained a restriction on claims for universal credit during an “interim period” by claimants responsible for more than two children or qualifying young persons. Regulation 2 also revokes regulation 40 which set out the circumstances in which a child or qualifying young person was transitionally protected for the purposes of calculating the child element of a universal credit award under Regulation 24A of the 2013 Regulations. During the interim period transitional protection was available for all children and qualifying young persons born before 6th April 2017 for whom the claimant was responsible. But after the interim period ended that protection was not to apply to new claims.

Regulation 3 amends regulation 24A(3) of the 2013 Regulations by providing that transitional protection is available, in any claim, for a third or subsequent child or qualifying young person who was born before 6^th April 2017.

Regulation 4 makes consequential amendments to prevent claims for an existing benefit by claimants responsible for more than two children or qualifying young persons, as the restriction in regulation 39 of the 2014 Regulations has been removed and such claimants can now claim universal credit.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on business and civil society organisations. This instrument has no impact on the public sector.