[^key-088e400f6d91e0cb8d2091476dccddaa]: Reg. 28A inserted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(4)(10)

[^key-cc47fa7f1441f17d2222836d1b357059]: Reg. 41A inserted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(6)(10)

[^key-9c492dbbbbd195162ecda5fefe23aa6d]: Sch. 5A inserted (6.4.2026 with effect in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by The Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (Rates of Allowances) (Amendment and Modification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (S.R. 2026/54), regs. 1(4), 3(4)

[^key-40ef4b8427c69ed67b4c30430e67f5e3]: Sch. 12 revoked (6.4.2026 in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026 (c. 13), ss. 2(3)(c), 3(4) (with s. 2(4))

[^key-5ac8a9f9d691228259d7e7884815ab11]: Reg. 25A revoked (6.4.2026 in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026 (c. 13), ss. 2(3)(a), 3(4) (with s. 2(4))

[^key-51582e4ffc2c95576f760d00c6acd7fd]: Reg. 25B revoked (6.4.2026 in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026 (c. 13), ss. 2(3)(b), 3(4) (with s. 2(4))

[^key-4fb959354b3597e952c510e0f27ebcb5]: Words in reg. 25(1) omitted (6.4.2026 in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by virtue of Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026 (c. 13), ss. 2(2)(b), 3(4) (with s. 2(4))

[^key-ca1bd0796251c7fbe7a61b1232103ef2]: Words in reg. 2 inserted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(2)(10)

[^key-088b6f8c8df4076c31ad652459065818]: Reg. 28(2)(a)-(d) and words inserted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(3)(a)(10)

[^key-fc0287c7cbecf0966d75a2d581db91db]: Words in reg. 28(3) inserted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(3)(b)(10)

[^key-5d012bf30366ef2bb319b9095a4633f6]: Words in reg. 28(4) renumbered as reg. 28(4)(a) (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(3)(c)(i)(10)

[^key-08b945704814900feb5a4a17c910959c]: Reg. 28(4)(b) and word inserted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(3)(c)(ii)(10)

[^key-6e205d58384747eac311853988dffba5]: Reg. 28A(1A) inserted (6.4.2026 with effect in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by The Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (Rates of Allowances) (Amendment and Modification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (S.R. 2026/54), regs. 1(4), 3(2)

[^key-8f6b6c04ffb725c1948ab51617b1c107]: Words in reg. 38 Table inserted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(5)(a)(10)

[^key-9b97be5d5ffa6b1af7355b040608a771]: Words in reg. 38 Table substituted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(5)(b)(10)

[^key-825c494b4023f07df457eccadbbb955f]: Words in reg. 38 Table substituted (6.4.2026 with effect in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by The Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (Rates of Allowances) (Amendment and Modification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (S.R. 2026/54), regs. 1(4), 3(3)(a)

[^key-4ac2a54a18acafb50acc359d5f5134ff]: Sum in reg. 38 Table substituted (6.4.2026 with effect in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by The Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (Rates of Allowances) (Amendment and Modification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (S.R. 2026/54), regs. 1(4), 3(3)(b)

[^key-3417de71e7d7c4fd993bad6667e15e95]: Words in reg. 42(1)(a) inserted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(7)(a)(i)(10)

[^key-f60b0ab347a591250f212918a67a5ce3]: Word in reg. 42(1) substituted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(7)(a)(ii)(10)

[^key-78ff9bced5e00f242ddbf689babd53a5]: Words in reg. 42(2)(b) renumbered as reg. 42(2)(b)(i) (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(7)(b)(i)(10)

[^key-1820e09cd80431b301f9cc64e06dfefa]: Reg. 42(2)(b)(ii) and word inserted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(7)(b)(ii)(10)

[^key-23f415dafe70a19e687cb200e6fb9d34]: Words in reg. 42(2) substituted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(7)(c)(10)

[^key-33095c00066a3b284fb4a78032c2565a]: Reg. 42(4)-(6) substituted for reg. 42(4) (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(7)(d)(10)

[^key-ac15a5eaf883c1b937d8973450ef94cf]: Words in reg. 44(1) inserted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(8)(a)(10)

[^key-ef48a727ef9bac37104c762a4ce7b96c]: Words in reg. 44(3) substituted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(8)(b)(10)

[^key-ec6aa647fef5a3e781bad806bfc9fe01]: Words in reg. 45(1) inserted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(9)(a)(10)

[^key-7185230774ff8152b3f86711254f4d98]: Words in reg. 45(2) substituted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(9)(b)(10)

Assessment period cycle to remain the same following change in the first date of entitlement

22A

(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) the first date of entitlement has been determined;

(b) it is subsequently determined that the first date of entitlement falls on a different date (the “start date”); and

(c) applying regulations 22(1) and (3) following that subsequent determination (and thereby changing the beginning of each assessment period) would, in the opinion of the Department, cause unnecessary disruption to the administration of the claim.

(2) Where this regulations applies—

(a) the first assessment period is to be a period of a length determined by the Department beginning with the start date;

(b) the amount payable in respect of that first assessment period is to be calculated as follows—

$$N×(A×12365)$where—N is the number of days in the period; andA is the amount calculated in relation to that period as if it were an assessment period of one month; and$

(c) regulation 22(1) and (3) apply to the second and subsequent assessment periods as if the day after the end of the first assessment period were the first date of entitlement.

Deduction of income and work allowance

Apportionment where re-claim is delayed after loss of employment

Transitional provision – temporary de minimis period

54A

(1) For the purposes of applying regulation 54 (surplus earnings) in relation to a claim for universal credit made in respect of a period that begins before the end of the temporary de minimis period, the meaning of “relevant threshold” in paragraph (6) of that regulation is modified by substituting “£2,500” for “£300”.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the “temporary de minimis period” is the period beginning with the coming into force of regulation 54 and ending on 31st March 2019, but may be extended by the Department if the Department considers it necessary to do so to safeguard the efficient administration of universal credit.

Employed earnings

Employee involved in trade dispute

Self-employed earnings — treatment of losses

Unused losses

Permitted expenses

Flat rate deductions for mileage and use of home and adjustment for personal use of business premises

Notional earned income

Information for calculating earned income – real time information etc.

Temporary Accommodation

4A

(1) The accommodation referred to in paragraph (3)(ea) is accommodation which falls within Case 1 or Case 2.

(2) Case 1 is where—

(a) rent payments are payable to the Housing Executive;

(b) the Housing Executive makes the accommodation available to the renter—

(i) to discharge any of the Housing Executive’s functions under Part II of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988, or

(ii) to prevent the person being or becoming homeless within the meaning of Part II of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988, and

(3) Case 2 is where—

(a) rent payments are payable to a provider of social housing other than the Housing Executive;

(b) that provider makes the accommodation available to the renter in pursuance of arrangements made with it by the Housing Executive—

(i) to discharge any of the Housing Executive’s functions under Part II of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988, or

(ii) to prevent the person being or becoming homeless within the meaning of Part II of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988, and

(4) Sub-paragraph (1) applies irrespective of whether the renter is also liable to make service charge payments.

(5) In sub-paragraph (3), “provider of social housing” has the meaning given in paragraph 2 of Schedule 4.

23

Any early years assistance given within the past 12 months in accordance with section 32 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018.

24

Any funeral expense assistance given within the past 12 months in accordance with section 34 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018.

25

Any assistance given within the past 12 months in accordance with the Carer’s Assistance (Young Carer Grants) (Scotland) Regulations 2019.

26

Any winter heating assistance given within the past 12 months in accordance with regulations made under section 30 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018.

18A

A payment received within the past 12 months by way of local welfare provision including arrears and payments in lieu of local welfare provision.

18ZA

A payment made within the past 12 months of widowed parent’s allowance—

(a) to the survivor of a cohabiting partnership (within the meaning in section 39A(7) of the Contributions and Benefits Act) who is entitled to a widowed parent’s allowance for a period before the Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 comes into force, and

(b) in respect of any period of time during the period ending with the day before the day the survivor makes the claim for widowed parent’s allowance.

Meaning of “pre-2026 claimant”

28A

(1) For the purposes of regulation 28, a claimant with limited capability for work and work-related activity is a “pre-2026 claimant” if the claimant—

(a) was entitled at any time before 6 April 2026 to an award of universal credit that included the LCWRA element, and

(b) has been entitled to an award of universal credit that included the LCWRA element continuously from that time.

(1A) Schedule 5A sets out further circumstances in which a claimant with limited capability for work and work-related activity is a “pre-2026 claimant” for the purposes of regulation 28.

(2) For the purpose of determining whether the claimant has been continuously entitled to an award of universal credit, no account is to be taken of any period of non-entitlement—

(a) that begins because the financial condition in Article 10(1)(b) or (2)(b) of the Order ceases to be met, and

(b) that ends within the period of six months beginning with the day on which that condition ceased to be met.

Period for which the ... LCWRA element is not to be included

Severe conditions criteria claimant

41A

(1) A claimant is a “severe conditions criteria claimant” if it has been determined that the claimant is a severe conditions criteria claimant on the basis of an assessment under this Part.

(2) A claimant is a severe conditions criteria claimant on the basis of an assessment under this Part if—

(a) the claimant has limited capability for work and work-related activity on the basis of an assessment under this Part (see regulation 41(2)), and

(b) at least one of the descriptors set out in Schedule 7 constantly applies to the claimant and will do so for the rest of the claimant’s life.

(3) In assessing the extent of a claimant’s capability to perform any activity listed in Schedule 7, it is a condition that the claimant’s incapability to perform the activity arises—

(a) in respect of descriptors 1 to 8, 15(a), 15(b), 16(a) and 16(b), from a specific bodily disease or disablement—

(i) that the claimant will have for the rest of their life, and

(ii) that has been diagnosed by an appropriately qualified health care professional in the course of the provision of health and social care services, or

(b) in respect of descriptors 9 to 14, 15(c), 15(d), 16(c) and 16(d), from a specific mental illness or disablement—

(i) that the claimant will have for the rest of their life, and

(ii) that has been diagnosed by an appropriately qualified health care professional in the course of the provision of health and social care services.

(4) A descriptor constantly applies to a claimant if that descriptor applies to the claimant at all times or, as the case may be, on all occasions on which the claimant undertakes or attempts to undertake the activity described by that descriptor.

(5) In this regulation “health and social care services” means—

(a) health and social care within the meaning of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 provided for the purposes of the system promoted under section 2(1) of that Act;

(b) health care services provided for the purposes of the health service continued under—

(i) section 1 (1) of the National Health Service Act 2006;

(ii) section 1 (1) of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006;

(iii) section 1 (1) of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978.

1

For the purposes of regulation 28, a claimant with limited capability for work and work-related activity is a “pre-2026 claimant” if the claimant—

(a) is entitled to an award of universal credit that includes the LCWRA element by virtue of one of the following paragraphs; and

(b) has been entitled continuously from the time that the LCWRA element was included in the award.

Claimant is awaiting first assessment under Part 5 before 6th April 2026

2

(1) This paragraph applies where—

(a) before 6th April 2026, in accordance with regulation 42(1)(a), the claimant is awaiting an assessment under Part 5; and

(b) on or after 6th April 2026, the claimant is determined to have limited capability for work and work-related activity and a decision is made that the claimant is entitled to an award that includes the LCWRA element.

(2) The decision in sub-paragraph (1)(b), or paragraph 3(b), may be made on a revision of a decision under Article 10 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998, a supersession of a decision under Article 11 of that Order, or on an appeal.

Claimant with limited capability for work is awaiting reassessment under Part 5 before 6th April 2026

3

This paragraph applies where—

(a) before 6th April 2026—

(i) a claimant had limited capability for work, and

(ii) in accordance with regulation 42(1)(b), the claimant is awaiting a further assessment under Part 5, and

(b) on or after 6th April 2026, the claimant is determined to have limited capability for work and work-related activity and a decision is made that the claimant is entitled to an award that includes the LCWRA element.

4

This paragraph applies where—

(a) before 6th April 2026

(i) the claimant has limited capability for work and work-related activity, and

(ii) the claimant’s award of universal credit does not include the LCWRA element by virtue of regulation 28(1) (relevant period), and

(b) on or after 6th April 2026, the LCWRA element is included in the claimant’s award of universal credit.

Claimant entitled to an employment and support allowance before 6th April 2026

5

This paragraph applies where—

(a) before 6th April 2026, a claimant is entitled to an employment and support allowance under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 that includes the support component within the meaning of that Part; and

(b) the claimant has been so entitled throughout the period beginning with 6th April 2026 and ending with the date on which the claimant is awarded universal credit that includes the LCWRA element.

Reading this document does not replace reading the official text published on legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies arising from the conversion of the original CLML XML to this format.

This text is published under legislation.gov.uk's own terms of reuse, not a Legalize or public-domain licence. legislation.gov.uk
Open Government Licence v3.0 (attribution required)
© Crown and database right. Derived from content available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 from legislation.gov.uk.

The Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Assessment period cycle to remain the same following change in the first date of entitlement

22A

Deduction of income and work allowance

Apportionment where re-claim is delayed after loss of employment

Transitional provision – temporary de minimis period

54A

Employed earnings

Employee involved in trade dispute

Self-employed earnings — treatment of losses

Unused losses

Permitted expenses

Flat rate deductions for mileage and use of home and adjustment for personal use of business premises

Notional earned income

Information for calculating earned income – real time information etc.

Temporary Accommodation

4A

23

24

25

26

18A

18ZA

Meaning of “pre-2026 claimant”

28A

Period for which the ... LCWRA element is not to be included

Severe conditions criteria claimant

41A

SCHEDULE 5A — Further circumstances in which a claimant with limited capability for work and work-related activity is a “pre-2026 claimant” for the purposes of regulation 28

Further circumstances in which a claimant with limited capability for work and work-related activity is a “pre-2026 claimant” for the purposes of regulation 28

1

Claimant is awaiting first assessment under Part 5 before 6th April 2026

2

Claimant with limited capability for work is awaiting reassessment under Part 5 before 6th April 2026

3

Claimant with limited capability for work and work-related activity whose award does not include the LCWRA element on 6th April 2026

4

Claimant entitled to an employment and support allowance before 6th April 2026

5