http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/5/section/159DSocial Security Administration Act 1992An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to the administration of social security and related matters with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-02-27Expert Participation2026-02-02 Part XIComputation Of Benefits<Addition ChangeId="key-b9bcd8d4a782cca74db0c7939cd41a7f-1636122685590" CommentaryRef="key-b9bcd8d4a782cca74db0c7939cd41a7f">Effect of alterations affecting universal credit</Addition>159D1Subject to such exceptions and conditions as may be prescribed, subsection (2) or (3) shall have effect where—aan award of universal credit is in force in favour of any person (“the recipient”), andban alteration—iin any element of universal credit,iiin the recipient's benefit income,iiiin any amount to be deducted in respect of earned income under section 8(3)(a) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012,ivin any component of a contribution-based jobseeker's allowance,vin any component of a contributory employment and support allowance, orviin such other matters as may be prescribed,affects the computation of the amount of universal credit to which he is entitled.2Where, as a result of the alteration, the amount of universal credit to which the recipient is entitled is increased or reduced, then, as from the commencing date, the amount of universal credit payable in the case of the recipient under the award shall be the increased or reduced amount, without any further decision of the Secretary of State; and the award shall have effect accordingly.3Where, notwithstanding the alteration, the recipient continues on and after the commencing date to be entitled to the same amount by way of universal credit as before, the award shall continue in force accordingly.4Subsection (5) applies where a statement is made in the House of Commons by or on behalf of the Secretary of State which specifies—ain relation to any of the items referred to in subsection (1)(b)(i) to (vi), the amount of the alteration which he proposes to make by an order under section 150, 150A , 151A or 152 or by or under any other enactment, andbthe date on which he proposes to bring the alteration in force (“the proposed commencing date”).5If, in a case where this subsection applies, an award of universal credit is made in favour of a person before the proposed commencing date and after the date on which the statement is made, the award—amay provide for the universal credit to be paid as from the proposed commencing date at a rate determined by reference to the amounts of the items referred to in subsection (1)(b)(i) to (vi) which will be in force on that date, orbmay be expressed in terms of the amounts of those items in force at the date of the award.6In this section—“alteration”—in relation to any element of universal credit, means its alteration by or under any enactment;in relation to a person's benefit income, means the alteration of any of the sums referred to in section 150, 150A or 151A by any enactment or by an order under section 150, 150A, 151A or 152 to the extent that any such alteration affects the amount of his benefit income;in relation to any component of a contribution-based jobseeker's allowance or a contributory employment and support allowance, means its alteration by or under any enactment;in relation to any other matter, has such meaning as may be prescribed;“benefit income”, in relation to a person, means so much of his income as consists of benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act , state pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act 2014 or personal independence payment;“the commencing date”, in relation to an alteration, means the date on which the alteration comes into force in relation to the recipient;“component”—in relation to contribution-based jobseeker's allowance, means any of the sums specified in regulations under the Jobseekers Act 1995 which are relevant in calculating the amount payable by way of a jobseeker's allowance;in relation to a contributory employment and support allowance, means any of the sums specified in regulations under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 which are relevant in calculating the amount payable by way of such an allowance;“element”, in relation to universal credit, means any of the amounts specified in regulations under sections 9 to 12 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 which are included in the calculation of an award of universal credit.S. 159D inserted (25.2.2013 for specified purposes, 29.4.2013 in so far as not already in force) by Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5), s. 150(3), Sch. 2 para. 23; S.I. 2013/358, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 20; S.I. 2013/983, art. 3(1)(b)(ii)Word in s. 159D(4)(a) inserted (16.9.2016) by The Pensions Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/931), arts. 1, 2(6)(a)Words in s. 159D(6)(b) substituted (16.9.2016) by The Pensions Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/931), arts. 1, 2(6)(b)(i)(aa)Words in s. 159D(6)(b) substituted (16.9.2016) by The Pensions Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/931), arts. 1, 2(6)(b)(i)(bb)Words in s. 159D(6)(b) inserted (16.9.2016) by The Pensions Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/931), arts. 1, 2(6)(b)(ii)