Regulation 6A inserted restricting claims for housing benefit, income support or a tax credit

The Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/752) inserted regulation 6A into the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014 on 25 July 2022, and revoked regulations 4 and 6 of those Regulations¹. Regulation 6A is headed "Restriction on claims for housing benefit, income support or a tax credit" and extends to England, Wales and Scotland¹.

The restriction is set out in general terms: "Except as provided by paragraphs (2) to (5) a person may not make a claim for housing benefit, income support, or a tax credit"¹. The same provision states that "a person may not make, or be treated as making, a claim for a tax credit in respect of the whole, or any part, of the tax year beginning on 6th April 2025 or any subsequent tax year"¹.

The exceptions in paragraphs (2) to (5) cover housing benefit claims in respect of specified accommodation or temporary accommodation, and claims by people who have reached the qualifying age for state pension credit¹. The text reads:

"Paragraph (1) does not apply to a claim for housing benefit by a single person who has reached the qualifying age for state pension credit, or a member of a State Pension Credit Act couple where both members have reached that age or a member of a polygamous marriage where all members have reached that age."

The Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014, regulation 6A¹

Separately, the Regulations provide that "a claimant is not entitled to (a) income support; (b) housing benefit; (c) a tax credit; or (d) state pension credit ... in respect of any period when the claimant is entitled to universal credit"¹.

The 2022 amendment also substituted words in regulation 8B on 25 July 2022¹. The Regulations have been amended on numerous other occasions, including in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025¹.

Provision	Effect	Date
Regulation 6A	Inserted, restricting claims for housing benefit, income support or a tax credit	25 July 2022¹
Regulations 4 and 6	Revoked	25 July 2022¹
Regulation 8B	Words substituted	25 July 2022¹

Why it matters for households

The change affects people who might otherwise start a new claim for housing benefit, income support or a tax credit. From 25 July 2022, regulation 6A generally prevents such claims, so a household in that position is directed towards Universal Credit instead¹. The restriction does not apply to housing benefit claims for specified accommodation or temporary accommodation, or to claims by people who have reached the qualifying age for state pension credit, including couples where both members have reached that age¹.

The tax credit restriction is drafted to bite from the tax year beginning 6 April 2025 and any subsequent tax year, so the bar on making or being treated as making a tax credit claim applies to that period and later¹. The Regulations also set out that a claimant is not entitled to income support, housing benefit, a tax credit or state pension credit for any period when they are entitled to Universal Credit¹.

For households already on legacy benefits, the practical questions are which benefit they can still claim and how housing costs are met once a Universal Credit claim is in place. The Regulations do not set out the rates or amounts payable under Universal Credit; those sit in separate legislation¹.

What happens next

The tax credit restriction in regulation 6A applies to the tax year beginning 6 April 2025 and subsequent tax years¹. No further commencement dates for regulation 6A are given in the text.

Sources1 cited