Benefits and Welfare Legislation
Legislative framework for social security, welfare benefits, universal credit, pension schemes, and support systems for vulnerable populations.
The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order 2025
The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order 2025 designates numerous public and local government bodies to provide financial information to the Treasury for the 2024-2025 financial year.
This data is used to compile the Whole of Government Accounts, aiming to improve transparency and accountability in public spending.
The Order came into force on March 18, 2025, and applies to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The Treasury consulted with Welsh Ministers where deemed appropriate.
The Armed Forces Pensions (Remediable Service) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Armed Forces Pensions (Remediable Service) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend various armed forces pension schemes, including the 1975, 2005, and Reserve Forces schemes.
Key changes include removing outdated definitions, correcting cross-references, and updating provisions related to continuity of service. These amendments aim to increase clarity and consistency across different schemes, streamlining administrative processes and ensuring a fairer calculation of pension entitlements for service members.
The Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (Administration) Regulations 2025
These regulations outline the administrative procedures for the UK's statutory neonatal care pay.
They detail employer entitlement to reimbursement (92% of payments, or 100% for small employers), application processes for funding, authorized deductions from employer payments to HMRC, procedures for handling overpayments, employer record-keeping requirements, and information provisions for employees.
The regulations also cover inspection of employer records by HMRC officers, dispute resolution mechanisms and information requests related to entitlement.
The Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (Persons Abroad and Mariners) Regulations 2025
These regulations, effective April 6, 2025, extend statutory neonatal care pay eligibility under the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 to individuals working abroad, mariners, and those employed on the continental shelf.
The regulations specify conditions for eligibility, including employment location, employer liability for national insurance contributions, and periods of employment in the EEA. They also clarify the treatment of individuals under existing UK and EU social security legislation and establish procedures for compliance with time limits, particularly for those temporarily outside of the UK.
The Neonatal Care Leave and Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Regulations 2025
The regulations implement comprehensive changes across UK legislation to accommodate the new neonatal care leave and pay entitlements established by the Neonatal Care Act 2023.
The amendments span multiple areas including social security, employment benefits, pension schemes, and various public sector regulations, ensuring proper integration of neonatal care leave rights with existing statutory frameworks.
The Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These regulations, effective April 6, 2025, amend the 2014 Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations for England and Wales.
The amendments increase several financial thresholds related to personal expenses and minimum guaranteed income amounts for individuals receiving care.
These changes affect both those in care homes and those receiving care outside of care homes, impacting how local authorities calculate individual contributions towards their care costs.
The Universal Credit (Work-Related Requirements) In Work Pilot Scheme (Extension) Order 2025
The Universal Credit (Work-Related Requirements) In Work Pilot Scheme (Extension) Order 2025 extends an existing pilot program testing mandated work requirements for employed Universal Credit claimants.
The extension, effective February 19, 2025, covers England, Wales, and Scotland, and continues the scheme for another twelve months.
The order leverages existing legislation and claims to have a non-significant impact, foregoing a full impact assessment.
This decision allows for continued data collection and evaluation of policy effectiveness.
The Community Radio Order 2025
The Community Radio Order 2025, effective April 1, 2025, consolidates and amends existing legislation governing community radio in the UK. It defines community radio services, focusing on their non-commercial, community-beneficial nature and the obligations on licensees, such as promoting social gain and accountability to the served community.
The order modifies relevant sections of the Broadcasting Act 1990 and the Communications Act 2003, revokes previous related orders, and includes transitional provisions for existing licences.
The focus is on fostering participation from community members, and ensuring that services are provided primarily for social gain.