Remaining universal credit provisions brought into force

The remaining provisions of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 were brought into force on 30 March 2022 by commencement order S.I. 2022/302, in so far as they were not already in force¹. The same date saw the remaining provisions of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 brought into operation by S.R. 2022/132².

The 2012 Act received Royal Assent on 8 March 2012 as chapter 5 of that year¹. Its long title describes it as "An Act to make provision for universal credit and personal independence payment; to make other provision about social security and tax credits; to make provision about the functions of the registration service, child support maintenance and the use of jobcentres; to establish the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission and otherwise amend the Child Poverty Act 2010; and for connected purposes"¹.

Section 1 of the Act, which sets out entitlement to universal credit, had previously been in force only for specified purposes from 29.4.2013 under S.I. 2013/983¹. The 30 March 2022 order extended it to all remaining purposes¹. Section 3, covering entitlement and awards, followed the same pattern: specified purposes from 29.4.2013, and the remainder from 30 March 2022¹. Section 2(2) had come into force earlier, on 25.2.2013, by S.I. 2013/358¹.

The Northern Ireland Order was made on 9 December 2015². Its article 6, which deals with entitlement to universal credit, was in operation at 30 March 2022 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2022/132, as was article 12². Earlier provisions had been commenced for specified purposes on 2 May 2016 by S.R. 2016/215, covering articles 7, 9 and 10².

The two instruments use similar language on who can claim. Under the 2012 Act, universal credit may be awarded to "an individual who is not a member of a couple (a 'single person'), or members of a couple jointly"¹. The Northern Ireland Order uses the same wording². Both set out that an award is calculated by reference to a standard allowance, an amount for responsibility for children or young persons, an amount for housing, and amounts for other particular needs or circumstances¹.

The basic conditions in the 2012 Act require a claimant to be at least 18 years old, not to have reached the qualifying age for state pension credit, to be in Great Britain, not to be receiving education, and to have accepted a claimant commitment¹. The Northern Ireland Order mirrors this, substituting Northern Ireland for Great Britain².

Why it matters for households

Universal credit is the means-tested benefit that replaced six legacy benefits for working-age claimants. The commencement of the remaining provisions on 30 March 2022 completed the statutory basis for the benefit across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, rather than changing the amounts paid or the conditions claimants must meet.

The rules that determine entitlement are set out in the provisions now fully in force. A single person or a couple can be awarded universal credit, and the award is built from a standard allowance plus elements for children, housing and other needs¹. Claimants must be at least 18, must not have reached the qualifying age for state pension credit, must be in Great Britain or Northern Ireland as applicable, must not be receiving education, and must have accepted a claimant commitment¹.

The qualifying age for state pension credit matters for mixed-age couples, where one partner has reached that age and the other has not. The age condition is written into the entitlement provisions that took effect on 30 March 2022¹.

What happens next

No further commencement of these provisions has been reported. The legislation.gov.uk version of the 2012 Act states it is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 26 September 2026, and that there are changes that may be brought into force at a future date¹. The Northern Ireland Order carries a similar note, up to date on or before 27 September 2026².