Part 1

Universal credit
CHAPTER 2

Claimant responsibilities

Work-related requirements

Work availability requirement
18
1
In this Part a “work availability requirement” is a requirement that a claimant be available for work.
2
For the purposes of this section “available for work” means able and willing immediately to take up paid work (or more paid work or better-paid work).
3
Regulations may impose limitations on a work availability requirement by reference to the work to which it relates; and the Secretary of State may in any particular case specify further such limitations on such a requirement.
4
A limitation under subsection (3) may in particular be by reference to—
a
work of a particular nature,
b
work with a particular level of remuneration,
c
work in particular locations, or
d
work available for a certain number of hours per week or at particular times,
and may be indefinite or for a particular period.
5
Regulations may for the purposes of subsection (2) define what is meant by a person being able and willing immediately to take up work.
S. 18(3)(5) in force at 25.2.2013 for specified purposes by S.I. 2013/358, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 7
Pt. 1 modified by 1995 c. 18, Sch. 1 para. 2(3) (as inserted (29.4.2013) by The Universal Credit (Consequential, Supplementary, Incidental and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/630), regs. 1(2), 10(b))
S. 18 in force at 29.4.2013 for specified purposes by S.I. 2013/983, art. 3(2)-(6), Sch. 1, Sch. 2 (as amended: (1.7.2013) by S.I. 2013/1511; (29.10.2013) by S.I. 2013/2657; (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (15.9.2014) by S.I. 2014/2321; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (21.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3094; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32 (as amended (10.2.2015) by S.I. 2015/101); (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (23.11.2015) by S.I. 2015/1930; (6.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/483; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (16.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/10; and (31.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/167)
S. 18 in force at 1.7.2013 and 29.7.2013 for specified purposes by S.I. 2013/1511, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (29.10.2013) by S.I. 2013/2657; (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; and (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138)
S. 18 in force at 28.10.2013 for specified purposes by S.I. 2013/2657, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; and (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138)
S. 18 in force at 25.11.2013 for specified purposes by S.I. 2013/2846, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; and (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596)
S. 18 in force at 24.2.2014 and 7.4.2014 for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/209, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2105) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; and (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57)
S. 18 in force at 23.6.2014 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/1583, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; and (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881)
S. 18 in force at 15.9.2014 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/2321, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3057; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (29.9.2016) by S.I. 2016/963; (24.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/584; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; and (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881)
S. 18 in force at 26.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/3094, art. 3 (with art. 6)
S. 18 in force at 28.1.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/33, art. 3 (with art. 6) (as amended: (11.2.2015) by S.I. 2015/101; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (6.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/483; (11.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (16.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/10; (15.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/37; and (31.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/167)
S. 18 in force at 16.2.2015 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/101, art. 3 (with art. 2(2)-(4)) (as amended or modified: (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/534; (17.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/740; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (14.1.2016) by S.I. 2016/33; (21.3.2016) by S.I. 2016/407; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (29.9.2016) by S.I. 2016/963; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; (24.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/584; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; and (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881)
S. 18 in force at 18.3.2015 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/634, art. 3 (with arts. 5, 7) (as amended or modified: (17.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/740; (21.3.2016) by S.I. 2016/407; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (29.9.2016) by S.I. 2016/963; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; (6.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/376; (24.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/584; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881; (16.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/10; (15.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/37; and (31.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/167)
S. 18 in force at 21.9.2015 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1537, art. 3 (as amended or modified: (23.11.2015) by S.I. 2015/1930; (14.1.2016) by S.I. 2016/33; (21.3.2016) by S.I. 2016/407; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (29.9.2016) by S.I. 2016/963; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; (24.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/584; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; and (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881)
S. 18 in force at 2.12.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1930, art. 3 (with art. 7)
S. 18 in force at 27.1.2016 and 24.2.2016 for specified purposes by S.I. 2016/33, art. 3, Sch. (with art. 7)
S. 18 in force at 23.3.2016 and 27.4.2016 for specified purposes by S.I. 2016/407, art. 3, Sch.
S. 18 in force at 1.2.2019 for specified purposes by S.I. 2019/167, art. 4(1)-(3) (with art. 4(4)(11))
Pts. 1, 4 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Iceland) (Liechtenstein) (Norway) (Citizens' Rights Agreement) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/1302), art. 2; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Pts. 1, 4 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Switzerland) (Citizens' Rights Agreement) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/1303), art. 2; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Pt. 1 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Ireland) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/622), art. 2; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Pt. 1 modified (1.1.2021) by The Social Security (Norway) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/1597), arts. 1, 2(1)(2), Sch. (with art. 2(3))
Pts. 1, 4 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Switzerland) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1088), art. 2(1)-(3), Sch.
S. 18 in force at 30.3.2022 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2022/302, art. 3 (with arts. 4, 5, Sch.)
Pts. 1, 4 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Iceland) (Liechtenstein) (Norway) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1060), art. 2, Sch.