Department for Work and Pensions Legislation
53 statutory instruments made by the Department for Work and Pensions, newest first. Each one is explained section by section in plain English.
The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations 2026
Exempted specific Armed Forces early departure equivalent benefits from Class 1 National Insurance contribution calculations.
These Regulations amend the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001 to exclude specific payments from the calculation of earnings used to determine Class 1 National Insurance contributions.
The amendment applies to members of the regular armed forces who elect to receive benefits equivalent to the 2015 Early Departure Payments scheme for their remediable service under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975.
The Treasury issued these regulations with the concurrence of the Secretary of State and the Northern Ireland Department for Communities.
The Universal Credit, Housing Benefit and State Pension Credit (Carer’s Allowance Reassessment Capital Disregard) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Excluded Carer's Allowance recalculation lump sums from being counted as capital for means-tested benefits.
These Regulations modify several pieces of secondary legislation to ensure that lump sum payments made by the Secretary of State following a recalculation of Carer's Allowance are excluded from capital assessments.
The rules apply to individuals receiving State Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Universal Credit who receive such payments as a result of the Independent Review of Carer's Allowance Overpayments.
By directing that these sums be disregarded as capital, the instrument prevents these specific payments from affecting a claimant’s eligibility for or the amount of their means-tested benefits.
The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Disability and Carer Benefits) (Consequential Amendments) Order 2026
- Department: Department for Work and Pensions
- Made under: Scotland Act 1998
Adjusted UK-wide social security and housing benefit regulations to incorporate and recognize specific Scottish disability and carer benefits introduced under devolved legislation.
This Order amends various social security, housing benefit, and decision-making regulations across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to integrate new Scottish disability and carer benefits into the existing UK-wide legal framework.
It updates terminology to include 'carer benefits' alongside disability benefits and ensures that payments such as Carer Support Payment and Pension Age Disability Payment are recognized within the rules for claims, revisions of decisions, and funeral expense deductions.
The Order applies to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and relevant social security authorities responsible for administering benefits and the appeals process.
The Pension Schemes Act 2026 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Work and Pensions
- Made under: Pension Schemes Act 2026
Commenced Section 123 of the Pension Schemes Act 2026 regarding pension protection levies.
These Regulations bring into force Section 123 of the Pension Schemes Act 2026 on 29th June 2026.
The activated section grants the Board of the Pension Protection Fund the authority to adjust annual levies, including the power to reduce them to zero or a minimal amount, and establishes specific limits on how much those levies can be increased in subsequent years.
The order applies to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Board of the Pension Protection Fund.
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 2026
- Department: Department for Work and Pensions
- Made under: Petroleum Act 1987
The Order established 500-metre safety zones around three offshore installations undergoing decommissioning and revoked safety zones for three other specific offshore features.
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 2026 establishes 500-metre safety zones around three specified offshore installations—Global Producer III, Solan, and Wenlock, using coordinates based on the World Geodetic System 1984, specifically to maintain protection during their ongoing dismantlement phases.
This Order is made by the Secretary of State under the Petroleum Act 1987 and concurrently amends previous orders by removing safety zones related to the Thames Bure Wellhead, Thames Yare Wellhead, and the Victoria Subsea Production Well.
The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Decisions and Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Work and Pensions
- Made under: Social Security Act 1998, Social Security Administration Act 1992
The regulations amend existing 2013 social security legislation to permit the extension of fixed-term Personal Independence Payment awards for administrative efficiency in England and Wales, effective from June 2nd, 2026.
This Statutory Instrument, which applies only to England and Wales, amends the 2013 regulations governing decisions and appeals for Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Jobseeker's Allowance, and Employment and Support Allowance by inserting a provision that empowers the Secretary of State to extend the duration of any fixed-term award of Personal Independence Payment if deemed necessary to ensure the efficient administration of that benefit.
The National Employment Savings Trust (Amendment) Order 2026
- Department: Department for Work and Pensions
- Made under: Pensions Act 2008
Amended the National Employment Savings Trust Order 2010 to allow the Trustee to offer drawdown pensions to members and expand post-death payment flexibility to dependants, nominees, or successors.
This Statutory Instrument, the National Employment Savings Trust (Amendment) Order 2026, amends the National Employment Savings Trust Order 2010 to introduce greater flexibility in how pension benefits are paid from the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST).
The Order empowers the Trustee to offer members the option of receiving a drawdown pension and modifies benefit payment options upon a member's death to allow for a dependants' scheme pension or a drawdown pension paid to a dependant, nominee, or successor, incorporating terminology defined in the Finance Act 2004.
The Warwickshire County Council (Adult Education Functions) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Work and Pensions
- Made under: Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016
The Regulations transferred certain adult education functions from the Secretary of State to Warwickshire County Council and established conditions on their exercise.
These Regulations formally transfer specific adult education functions, originally held by the Secretary of State under the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009, to Warwickshire County Council concerning its local area, with effect from April 22, 2026, primarily for academic years starting after August 1, 2026, while explicitly excluding functions related to apprenticeship training and services for adults in detention, and subject the Council's new responsibilities to ongoing directions and guidance from the Secretary of State.