The Universal Credit Regulations 2013

Work-related groups U.K.

Claimants subject to no work-related requirements U.K.

89.—(1) A claimant falls within section 19 of the Act (claimants subject to no work-related requirements) if—.

(a) the claimant has reached the qualifying age for state pension credit;

(b) the claimant has caring responsibilities for one or more severely disabled persons for at least 35 hours a week but does not meet the conditions for entitlement to a carer's allowance [F1 , or have entitlement to carer support payment,] and the Secretary of State is satisfied that it would be unreasonable to require the claimant to comply with a work search requirement and a work availability requirement, including if such a requirement were limited in accordance with section 17(4) or 18(3) of the Act;

(c) the claimant is pregnant and it is 11 weeks or less before her expected week of confinement, or was pregnant and it is 15 weeks or less since the date of her confinement;

(d) the claimant is an adopter and it is 12 months or less since—

(i) the date that the child was placed with the claimant, or

(ii) if the claimant requested that the 12 months should run from a date within 14 days before the child was expected to be placed, that date;

[F2 (da) the claimant is a member of a couple entitled to universal credit by virtue of regulation 3(2)(b) and has student income in relation to the course they are undertaking which is taken into account in the calculation of the award;]

(e) the claimant does not have to meet the condition in section 4(1)(d) of the Act (not receiving education) by virtue of regulation 14 and—

(i) is a person referred to in paragraph (a) of that regulation (under 21, in non-advanced education and without parental support), or

(ii) has student income in relation to the course they are undertaking which is taken into account in the calculation of the award; or

(f) the claimant is the responsible foster parent of a child under the age of 1.

(2) In paragraph (1)(b) “severely disabled” has the meaning in section 70 of the Contributions and Benefits Act.

(3) In paragraph (1)(d)—

(a) “adopter” means a person who has been matched with a child for adoption and who is, or is intended to be, the responsible carer for the child, but excluding a person who is a foster parent or close relative of the child; and

(b) a person is matched with a child for adoption when it is decided by an adoption agency that the person would be a suitable adoptive parent for the child.

[F3 (4) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(e)(ii), a claimant is not to be treated as having student income where—

(a) that income is a postgraduate F4 ... loan; and

(b) the course in respect of which that loan is paid is not a full-time course.

(5) In paragraph (4), “postgraduate F5 ... loan” has the meaning given in regulation 68(7).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 89(1)(b) 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(7)

F2 Reg. 89(1)(da) inserted (11.4.2018) by The Universal Credit (Miscellaneous Amendments, Saving and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/65), regs. 1(4), 3(10)

F3 Reg. 89(4)(5) inserted (4.8.2016) by The Social Security (Treatment of Postgraduate Masters Degree Loans and Special Support Loans) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/743), regs. 1, 6(5)

F4 Words in reg. 89(4)(a) omitted (15.7.2020) by virtue of The Social Security (Income and Capital) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/618), regs. 1, 8(6)

F5 Words in reg. 89(5) omitted (15.7.2020) by virtue of The Social Security (Income and Capital) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/618), regs. 1, 8(6)

Claimants subject to no work-related requirements - the earnings thresholds U.K.

90.—(1) A claimant falls within section 19 of the Act (claimants subject to no work-related requirements) if the claimant's [F6 monthly] earnings are equal to or exceed the claimant's individual threshold.

(2) A claimant's individual threshold is the amount that a person of the same age as the claimant would be paid at the hourly rate applicable under [F7 regulation 4 or regulation 4A(1)(a) to (c)] of the National Minimum Wage Regulations for—

(a) 16 hours per week, in the case of a claimant who would otherwise fall within section 20 (claimants subject to work-focused interview requirement only) or section 21 (claimants subject to work-preparation requirement) of the Act; or

(b) the expected number of hours per week in the case of a claimant who would otherwise fall within section 22 of the Act (claimants subject to all work-related requirements)[F8 ,

converted to a monthly amount by multiplying by 52 and dividing by 12].

(3) A claimant who is a member of a couple falls within section 19 of the Act if the couple's combined [F9 monthly] earnings are equal to or exceed whichever of the following amounts is applicable—

(a) in the case of joint claimants, the sum of their individual thresholds; or

(b) in the case of a claimant who claims universal credit as a single person by virtue of regulation 3(3), the sum of—

(i) the claimant's individual threshold, and

(ii) the amount a person would be paid for 35 hours per week at the hourly rate specified in [F10 regulation 4] of the National Minimum Wage Regulations [F11 , converted to a monthly amount by multiplying by 52 and dividing by 12].

(4) A claimant falls within section 19 of the Act if the claimant is employed under a contract of apprenticeship and has [F12 monthly] earnings that are equal to or exceed the amount they would be paid for—

(a) 30 hours a week; or

(b) if less, the expected number of hours per week for that claimant,

at the rate specified in [F13 regulation 4A(1)(d)] of the National Minimum Wage Regulations [F14 , converted to a monthly amount by multiplying by 52 and dividing by 12].

[F15 (5) A claimant falls within section 19 of the Act if they are treated as having earned income in accordance with regulation 62 (minimum income floor).]

(6) [F16 A person’s monthly earnings are]—

(a) [F17 the person’s] earned income calculated or estimated in relation to the current assessment period before any deduction for income tax, national insurance contributions or relievable pension contributions; or

(b) in a case where the person's earned income fluctuates (or is likely to fluctuate) the amount of that income [F18 , calculated or estimated before any deduction for income tax, national insurance contributions or relievable pension contributions, taken as a monthly average]—

(i) where there is an identifiable cycle, over the duration of one such cycle, or

(ii) where there is no identifiable cycle, over three months or such other period as may, in the particular case, enable the [F19 monthly] average to be determined more accurately

[F20 and the Secretary of State may, in order to enable monthly earnings to be determined more accurately, disregard earned income received in respect of an employment which has ceased].

F21 (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F6 Word in reg. 90(1) substituted (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(6)(a)

F7 Words in reg. 90(2) substituted (25.7.2016) by The Social Security (Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/678), regs. 1, 5(4)(a)

F8 Words in reg. 90(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(6)(b)

F9 Word in reg. 90(3) substituted (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(6)(c)(i)

F10 Words in reg. 90(3)(b)(ii) substituted (25.7.2016) by The Social Security (Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/678), regs. 1, 5(4)(b)

F11 Words in reg. 90(3)(b)(ii) 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(6)(c)(ii)

F12 Word in reg. 90(4) substituted (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(6)(d)(i)

F13 Words in reg. 90(4) substituted (25.7.2016) by The Social Security (Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/678), regs. 1, 5(4)(c)

F14 Words in reg. 90(4) 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(6)(d)(ii)

F15 Reg. 90(5) substituted (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), 4(7)

F16 Words in reg. 90(6) substituted (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(6)(e)(i)

F17 Words in reg. 90(6)(a) substituted (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(6)(e)(ii)

F18 Words in reg. 90(6)(b) 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(6)(e)(iii)

F19 Word in reg. 90(6)(b)(ii) substituted (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(6)(e)(iv)

F20 Words in reg. 90(6) 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(6)(e)(v)

F21 Reg. 90(7) omitted (25.7.2016) by virtue of The Social Security (Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/678), regs. 1, 5(4)(d)

Claimants subject to work-focused interview requirement only U.K.

91.—F22 (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) A claimant falls within section 20 of the Act if—

(a) the claimant is the responsible foster parent in relation to a child aged at least 1;

(b) the claimant is the responsible foster parent in relation to a qualifying young person, and the Secretary of State is satisfied that the qualifying young person has care needs which would make it unreasonable to require the claimant to comply with a work search requirement or a work availability requirement, including if such a requirement were limited in accordance with section 17(4) or 18(3) of the Act;

(c) the claimant is a foster parent, but not the responsible foster parent, in relation to a child or qualifying young person, and the Secretary of State is satisfied that the child or qualifying young person has care needs which would make it unreasonable to require the claimant to comply with a work search requirement or a work availability requirement, including if such a requirement were limited in accordance with section 17(4) or 18(3) of the Act;

(d) the claimant has fallen within sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) within the past 8 weeks and has no child or qualifying young person currently placed with them, but expects to resume being a foster parent; or

(e) the claimant has become a friend or family carer in relation to a child within the past 12 months and is also the responsible carer in relation to that child.

(3) In paragraph (2)(e) “friend or family carer” means a person who is responsible for a child, but is not the child's parent or step-parent, and has undertaken the care of the child in the following circumstances—

(a) the child has no parent or has parents who are unable to care for the child; or

(b) it is likely that the child would otherwise be looked after by a local authority because of concerns in relation to the child's welfare.

Textual Amendments

F22 Reg. 91(1) omitted (3.4.2017) by virtue of Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 (c. 7), ss. 17(2)(a), 36(6); S.I. 2017/111, reg. 3(c)

[F23 Claimants subject to work preparation requirement] U.K.

F24 91A.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F23 Reg. 91A inserted (28.4.2014) by The Income Support (Work-Related Activity) and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1097), regs. 1(1), 16(3)

F24 Reg. 91A revoked (3.4.2017) by Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 (c. 7), ss. 17(2)(b), 36(6); S.I. 2017/111, reg. 3(c)

Claimants subject to all work-related requirements - EEA jobseekers U.K.

F25 92.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F25 Reg. 92 revoked (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Universal Credit (EEA Jobseekers) Amendment Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/546), regs. 1(1), 3