These Regulations, specifically the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Regulations 2011 (Amendment) Regulations 2012, modify the existing 2011 scheme governing compensation payments made to members of the Armed Forces who suffer injury, disablement, or death as a result of service.

This Statutory Instrument, made by HM Treasury with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, modifies section 4A of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 to align social security contribution rules with recent changes made to income tax legislation by the Finance Act 2026 concerning workers supplied through service companies and umbrella companies.

The Order primarily empowers the Treasury to introduce regulations holding certain persons jointly and severally liable with umbrella companies for contributions, and to treat payments made under deemed employment scenarios with 'purported umbrella companies' as earnings for contributions purposes.

This Statutory Instrument, made by the Treasury with the concurrence of the Department for Communities, modifies Section 4A of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992.

The primary purpose is to assimilate the law on social security contributions with changes made to income tax law by the Finance Act 2026, particularly regarding earnings paid to workers supplied by service companies or channeled through umbrella companies.

The Order inserts powers allowing regulations to make individuals jointly and severally liable alongside umbrella companies for contributions, define how payments received under deemed employment rules (ITEPA 2003 section 61Z1) are treated as earnings, and assign the purported umbrella company as the secondary contributor for those payments.

These Regulations, made by the Treasury with concurrence from the Secretary of State and the Department for Communities, amend the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001 to specify payments that must be disregarded when calculating earnings for the purpose of earnings-related social security contributions.

Specifically, Regulation 2 introduces exemptions for amounts shielded from income tax under sections 316ZA (accommodation, supplies, and services used in employment duties) and 320D (flu vaccinations) of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003, bringing the contributions framework into alignment with the recent tax legislation changes and coming into force on April 6, 2026.

The Guardian's Allowance Up-rating Regulations 2026 enact transitional and administrative rules necessary to implement the increase in Guardian's Allowance mandated by the preceding Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance Up-rating Order 2026, effective from April 6th, 2026.

These regulations specify that if questions arise regarding an individual's eligibility for the new, higher rate, the increased payment will be withheld until a formal determination is made, and they also confirm the continued applicability of rules concerning overseas beneficiaries.

These Regulations amend the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (England) Regulations 2014, specifically updating the member contribution structure detailed in Regulation 110.

The changes, effective from 1st April 2026, introduce revised annual pensionable pay thresholds and corresponding contribution rates, while also establishing a mechanism to automatically increase these thresholds annually based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (or another index decided by the Secretary of State).

Furthermore, the amendments standardize the terminology used when calculating contributions for retained, volunteer, and part-time firefighters.

This Statutory Instrument, The Pensions Increase (Review) Order 2026, sets out the annual percentage increases to be applied to official public service pensions in the UK starting from April 6th, 2026, based on a direction given by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding inflation adjustments; it specifies a 3.8 per cent increase for most pensions that began before April 7th, 2025, provides a formula for pensions starting later, and details adjustments for lump sums and reductions where a recipient is also entitled to a Guaranteed Minimum Pension.

These Regulations primarily amend provisions governing discretionary financial assistance and housing payments across England and Wales, coming into force on April 1, 2026.

The key actions involve revoking the Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations 2001 and the Discretionary Housing Payments (Grants) Order 2001 in relation to England, while continuing their effect in Wales.

For Wales only, the Regulations amend the 2001 Order by removing the previous reference to English and Welsh authorities in claims procedure and, crucially, omitting the article that previously limited the total expenditure local authorities could spend on discretionary housing payments.