Statutory Instruments
2026 No. 395
SOCIAL SECURITY
The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Made
at 11.00 a.m. on 9th April 2026
Laid before Parliament
at 2.00 p.m. on 9th April 2026
Coming into force
30th April 2026
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 8(1) and (2), 9(1) and (2), and 25(2), (3) and (5) of the Welfare Reform Act 2007(1) and sections 37(3) and (4), 42(1) to (3), 80(1) and (3), and 94(1) to (3) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012(2).
In accordance with section 172(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992(3), the Secretary of State has referred the proposals in respect of these Regulations to the Social Security Advisory Committee.
Citation, commencement and extent
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance (Amendment) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 30th April 2026.
(2) Any amendment made by these Regulations has the same extent as the provision amended.
Amendment of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013
2. In regulation 41 of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (when an assessment may be carried out)(4)—
(a)in paragraph (1), for “(2)” substitute “(1A)”;
(b)after paragraph (1), insert—
“(1A) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), doing work for payment or in expectation of payment, or doing voluntary work, is not a relevant change of circumstances.”.
Amendment of the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013
3. In regulation 11 of the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013 (re-determination of ability to carry out activities)(5)—
(a)the existing provision is renumbered as paragraph (1);
(b)in paragraph (1), for “Where” substitute “Subject to paragraph (2), where”;
(c)after paragraph (1) insert—
“(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), doing work for payment or in expectation of payment, or doing voluntary work, is not a reason for a fresh determination.”.
Amendment of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2013
4.—(1) The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2013(6) are amended as follows.
(2) In regulation 15 (determination of limited capability for work) after paragraph (8), insert—
“(9) For the purposes of paragraph (8)(a), doing work for payment or in expectation of payment, or doing voluntary work, is not a relevant change of circumstances.”.
(3) In regulation 30 (determination of limited capability for work-related activity) after paragraph (5), insert—
“(5A) For the purposes of paragraph (5)(a), doing work for payment or in expectation of payment, or doing voluntary work, is not a relevant change of circumstances.”.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Stephen Timms
Minister of State
Department for Work and Pensions
at 11.00 a.m. on 9th April 2026