Updated various childcare regulations to ban dangerous dog breeds from premises, broadened harm notification requirements, and adopted the July 2026 EYFS statutory frameworks.

These Regulations amend several existing statutory instruments to update childcare registration and welfare requirements in England.

The legislation prohibits the presence of banned dog breeds at childcare premises, lowers the threshold for notifying the Chief Inspector of child abuse or harm by removing the qualifier 'serious', and adopts updated statutory frameworks for learning, development, and staff qualifications.

It applies specifically to early years childminders, group and school-based providers, later years providers, and home child-carers registered on both the Early Years and General Childcare Registers.

Amended the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 to introduce new income disregards for working-age claimants in temporary or specified accommodation.

These Regulations amend the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 to increase the amount of earned income ignored during the financial assessment for claimants living in specified or temporary accommodation.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions establishes five distinct disregard rates based on the claimant’s age and relationship status, ranging from £61.41 to £119.70 per week.

These changes apply to working-age claimants in England, Wales, and Scotland, directing local authorities to apply these new calculations when determining eligibility and benefit amounts for employed and self-employed earners.

Revoked the Pensions Regulator's Code of Practice for collective defined contribution schemes effective July 31, 2026.

This Order revokes the Pensions Regulator’s Code of Practice regarding the authorisation and supervision of collective defined contribution schemes.

It exercises powers granted to the Secretary of State under the Pensions Act 2004 and applies to the regulatory framework governing occupational pension schemes in England, Wales, and Scotland.

The revocation precedes the issuance of a revised code intended to incorporate legislative extensions for unconnected multiple employer schemes.

Appointed 31 July 2026 as the commencement date for the Pensions Regulator's Code of Practice on Collective Defined Contribution schemes and revoked the corresponding 2022 Order.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions establishes 31 July 2026 as the date on which the Pensions Regulator’s updated Code of Practice regarding the authorisation and supervision of collective defined contribution (CDC) schemes takes legal effect.

The Order applies to the Pensions Regulator and trustees or managers of CDC schemes in England, Wales, and Scotland.

It further revokes the 2022 Order that brought the previous iteration of the Code into force.

Expanded eligibility for free school lunches to pupils in maintained nursery schools in England whose parents receive Universal Credit.

This Order establishes free school lunch eligibility for registered pupils at maintained nursery schools in England if their parent receives Universal Credit and they do not already qualify under existing legislative criteria.

It directs school authorities to treat these pupils as eligible persons under section 512ZB(4A) of the Education Act 1996.

The provisions apply specifically to the education sector in England and involve parents who are recipients of Universal Credit.

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.

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.

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.