The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker's Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) (Modification) Regulations 2025
These regulations amend the 2013 regulations governing Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance, and Employment and Support Allowance claims and payments.
The key change prioritizes deductions for child maintenance over other deductions.
The regulations apply to England, Wales, and Scotland and are in effect from April 30, 2025, to April 30, 2026.
Arguments For
Improved Child Support Enforcement: Prioritizing child maintenance deductions ensures children receive support, aligning with the government's commitment to family welfare.
Streamlined Benefit System: The modification simplifies the existing regulations by clarifying deduction priorities, potentially reducing administrative burdens for both claimants and the Department for Work and Pensions.
Targeted Support for Vulnerable Groups: By giving preference to child maintenance, the regulations directly support vulnerable children and their families, a key aspect of social security policy.
Legal Basis: The regulations are explicitly authorized under sections 5(1)(p), (6), and 189 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, providing a solid legal foundation.
Arguments Against
Potential for Increased Administrative Complexity (Short-term): Implementing the changes might initially require some adjustment for benefit processors, until familiarity with the new priority system is achieved.
Unintended Consequences: The altered deduction structure could potentially lead to unforeseen consequences in specific cases, impacting other crucial deductions.
Limited Scope: Regulations only apply to England, Wales, and Scotland, excluding Northern Ireland.
Temporary Nature: The temporary nature (one year in effect) suggests the policy's long-term effectiveness remains unproven, potentially necessitating further review and adjustment.
- Citation, commencement, extent and cessation (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) (Modification) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 30th April 2025. (2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland. (3) These Regulations cease to have effect at the end of 30th April 2026.
This section details the title, effective date, geographical scope, and expiration date of the regulations.
The regulations are titled the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) (Modification) Regulations 2025.
They become law on April 30, 2025, apply to England, Wales, and Scotland, and expire on April 30, 2026.
- Modification of the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013 Schedule 6 to the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013 (deductions from benefit and direct payment to third parties) is to be read as if— (a) in paragraph 5(2)— (i) before paragraph (a) there were inserted— “ (za) Schedule 7 (deductions from benefit in respect of child support maintenance and payment to persons with care) to these Regulations;”; and (ii) paragraph (h) were omitted; and (b) in paragraph 5(4), for “housing costs” there were substituted “deductions under Schedule 7 (deductions from benefit in respect of child support maintenance and payment to persons with care) to these Regulations”.
This section modifies Schedule 6 of the 2013 regulations.
Specifically, it alters paragraph 5(2) by adding a new clause (za) that prioritizes deductions for child support maintenance listed in Schedule 7.
Additionally, it removes paragraph (h) and replaces “housing costs” in paragraph 5(4) with a reference to the child support maintenance deductions from Schedule 7.
Child support payments now take precedence over other deductions.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Stephen Timms Minister of State Department for Work and Pensions 25th March 2025
This section provides the signature and authentication of the regulations by Stephen Timms, Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, on March 25, 2025.
Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations modify paragraph 5(2) and (4) of Schedule 6 to the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/380). Paragraph 5(2) contains a list of provisions under which the Secretary of State may make deductions from Universal Credit. The modifications made by these Regulations to paragraph 5(2) and (4) have the effect that deductions for child maintenance have priority over the other deductions listed in paragraph 5(2). Under regulation 1, these Regulations will cease to have effect at the end of 30th April 2026. A full impact assessment has not been produced for these Regulations as no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.
The explanatory note summarizes the regulations' purpose and impact.
It clarifies that the amendments prioritize child maintenance deductions within the Universal Credit system.
The note also states that the regulations will expire on April 30, 2026, and that a full impact assessment was deemed unnecessary due to the lack of anticipated significant effects on the public, private, or voluntary sectors.
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