{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welfare-reform-act-2012/section-40",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welfare-reform-act-2012/section-40.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2012/5",
  "legislation_title": "Welfare Reform Act 2012",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welfare-reform-act-2012",
  "path": "section/40",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "40",
  "heading": "Interpretation of Part 1",
  "text": "In this Part—\n“assessment period” has the meaning given by section 7(2);\n“child” means a person under the age of 16;\n“claim” means claim for universal credit;\n“claimant” means a single claimant or each of joint claimants;\n“couple” has the meaning given by section 39;\n“disabled” has such meaning as may be prescribed;\n“joint claimants” means members of a couple who jointly make a claim or in relation to whom an award of universal credit is made;\n“limited capability for work” and “limited capability for work-related activity” are to be construed in accordance with section 37(1) and (2);\n“prescribed” means specified or provided for in regulations;\n“primary legislation” means an Act, Act of the Scottish Parliament or Act or Measure of the National Assembly for Wales;\n“qualifying young person” has the meaning given in section 10(5);\n“regular and substantial caring responsibilities” has such meaning as may be prescribed;\n“responsible carer”, in relation to a child, has the meaning given in section 19(6);\n“secondary legislation” means an instrument made under primary legislation”;\n“severely disabled” has such meaning as may be prescribed;\n“single claimant” means a single person who makes a claim for universal credit or in relation to whom an award of universal credit is made as a single person;\n“single person” is to be construed in accordance with section 1(2)(a);\n“work” has such meaning as may be prescribed;\n“work availability requirement” has the meaning given by section 18(1);\n“work preparation requirement” has the meaning given by section 16(1);\n“work search requirement” has the meaning given by section 17(1);\n“work-focused interview requirement” has the meaning given by section 15(1);\n“work-related activity”, in relation to a person, means activity which makes it more likely that the person will obtain or remain in work or be able to do so;\n“work-related requirement” has the meaning given by section 13(2).",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 40 in force at 25.2.2013 by S.I. 2013/358, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 para. 19"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/5/section/40",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:09:01.675536+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."
}