2020 No. 397
Social Security

The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Amendment Regulations 2020

Made
Laid before Parliament
Coming into force
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of powers conferred by section 122(1) and (6) of the Housing Act 19961 and sections 9(2) and 42(1) to (3) of the Welfare Reform Act 20122.
In accordance with section 173(1)(a) of the Social Security Administration Act 19923, it appears to the Secretary of State that by reason of the urgency of this matter it is inexpedient to refer the proposals in respect of these Regulations to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

Citation and commencement1.

These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Amendment Regulations 2020 and come into force on 6th April 2020.

Universal credit – standard allowance and local housing allowance modifications2.

(1)

In Regulation 3(2) of the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations 20204 (universal credit – standard allowance modification), for “from the day specified in article 1(3)(o) of the 2020 up-rating order” substitute “in the first assessment period that ends on or after 6th April 2020”.

(2)

In relation to any determination of local housing allowance made on 31st March 2020 in accordance with paragraph (1) of article 4 of the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 20135 (local housing allowance determinations), that article has effect as if—

(a)

for paragraph (3) of that article there were substituted—

“(3)

Any local housing allowance determination made in accordance with paragraph (1) on 31st March 2020 is to take effect—

(a)

in the case of a person who is entitled to universal credit on 6th April 2020, in the first assessment period that ends on or after 6th April 2020; and

(b)

in any other case, on 6th April 2020.”; and

(b)

in paragraph (4) of that article, the definitions of “a person with an existing UC entitlement” and “tax year” were omitted.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Will Quince
Minister for Welfare Delivery
Department for Work and Pensions
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend regulation 3 (universal credit - standard allowance modification) of the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/371). By virtue of that amendment the modified rates specified in that regulation are to take effect in relation to each award of universal credit in the first assessment period that ends on or after 6th April 2020.

These Regulations also modify the effect of the amendments made by regulation 4 (local housing allowance) of the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations 2020, so that determinations of local housing allowance made on 31st March 2020 under article 4 of the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/382) take effect in the first assessment period that ends on or after 6th April 2020.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, public or voluntary sectors is foreseen.