Explanatory Notes

Welfare Reform Act 2012

2012 CHAPTER 5

8 March 2012

Commentary on Sections

Part 2: Working-age benefits

Section 56: Hardship payments

294.Section 56 enables regulations to provide for circumstances in which payments will be made to a claimant where their benefit has been reduced as a result of a failure to take part in a work-focused interview, a work-focused health-related assessment, or work-related activity and they are or will be in hardship. In particular, regulations may prescribe the circumstances in which a person will be treated as being in hardship and the amounts and duration of any payments and conditions which claimants will have to satisfy to become and remain eligible. Hardship payments for ESA will not be recoverable.