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Welfare Reform Act 2007

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Welfare Reform Act 2007 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 11 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

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  1. Introductory Text

  2. Part 1 Employment and support allowance

    1. Entitlement

      1. 1.Employment and support allowance

      2. 1A.Duration of contributory allowance

      3. 1B.Further entitlement after time-limiting

      4. 2.Amount of contributory allowance

      5. 3.Deductions from contributory allowance: supplementary

      6. 4.Amount of income-related allowance

      7. 5.Advance award of income-related allowance

      8. 6.Amount payable where claimant entitled to both forms of allowance

      9. 7.Exclusion of payments below prescribed minimum

    2. Assessments relating to entitlement

      1. 8.Limited capability for work

      2. 9.Limited capability for work-related activity

      3. 10.Report

    3. Conditionality

      1. 11.

      2. 11A.Claimant commitment

      3. 11B.Work-focused interview requirement

      4. 11C.Work preparation requirement

      5. 11D.Persons subject to no work-related requirements

      6. 11E.Persons subject to work-focused interview requirement only

      7. 11F.Persons subject to work preparation and work-focused interview requirement

      8. 11G.Connected requirements

      9. 11H.Imposition of requirements

      10. 11I.Compliance with requirements

      11. 11J.Sanctions

      12. 11K.Delegation and contracting out

      13. 12.Work-focused interviews

      14. 13.Work-related activity

      15. 14.Action plans in connection with work-focused interviews

      16. 15.Directions about work-related activity

      17. 15A.Persons dependent on drugs etc.

      18. 16.Contracting out

      19. 16A.Hardship payments

    4. Miscellaneous

      1. 17.Income and capital: general

      2. 18.Disqualification

      3. 19.Pilot schemes

      4. 20.Relationship with statutory payments

      5. 21.Deemed entitlement for other purposes

      6. 22.Supplementary provisions

      7. 23.Recovery of sums in respect of maintenance

    5. General

      1. 24.Interpretation of Part 1

      2. 25.Regulations and orders

      3. 26.Parliamentary control

      4. 27.Financial provisions relating to Part 1

      5. 28.Consequential amendments relating to Part 1

      6. 29.Transition relating to Part 1

  3. Part 2 Housing benefit and council tax benefit

    1. 30.Local housing allowance

    2. 31.Loss of housing benefit following eviction for anti-social behaviour, etc.

    3. 32.Housing benefit and council tax benefit for persons taking up employment

    4. 33.Section 32: supplemental

    5. 34.Sections 32 and 33: interpretation

    6. 35.Information relating to housing benefit

    7. 36.Supply of information by rent officers

    8. 37.Payment of housing benefit

    9. 38.Duty to send inspection reports to the Secretary of State

    10. 39.Directions by Secretary of State

    11. 40.Minor and consequential amendments relating to Part 2

  4. Part 3 Social security administration: general

    1. Sharing of social security information

      1. 41.Social security information

      2. 42.Information relating to certain benefits

      3. 43.Unlawful disclosure of certain information

    2. Overpayment recovery

      1. 44.Recovery of overpaid benefit: Great Britain

      2. 45.Recovery of overpaid child benefit and guardian's allowance: Northern Ireland

    3. Benefit fraud

      1. 46.Local authority powers to investigate benefit fraud

      2. 47.Local authority powers to prosecute benefit fraud

      3. 48.Local authority functions relating to benefit: information

      4. 49.Loss of benefit for commission of benefit offences

  5. Part 4 Miscellaneous

    1. Benefits for bereaved persons

      1. 50.Widowed mother's allowance

      2. 51.Widowed parent's allowance

    2. Disability living allowance: age conditions

      1. 52.Care component of disability living allowance: persons under the age of 16

      2. 53.Mobility component of disability living allowance: persons under the age of 16

    3. Social fund

      1. 54.Matters to which regard must be had in awarding budgeting loans

      2. 55.Allocations from Social Fund

    4. Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979

      1. 56.Overseas vaccinations

      2. 57.Appeals to appeal tribunal in Northern Ireland

    5. Compensation for pneumoconiosis etc.

      1. 58.“Relevant employer”

      2. 59.“Dependant”

    6. Other

      1. 60.Power to stop payment of allowances to care home residents

      2. 61.Independent Living Funds

      3. 62.Medical examinations

      4. 63.Minor and consequential amendments relating to Part 4

  6. Part 5 General

    1. 64.Northern Ireland

    2. 65.General interpretation

    3. 66.Financial provisions: general

    4. 67.Repeals

    5. 68.Transition

    6. 69.Extent

    7. 70.Commencement

    8. 71.Short title

  7. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      Employment and support allowance: additional conditions

      1. Part 1 ...

        1. Conditions relating to national insurance

          1. 1.(1) The first condition is that— (a) the claimant has...

          2. 2.(1) The second condition is that— (a) the claimant has...

          3. 3.(1) For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2—

        2. Condition relating to youth

          1. 4.(1) The third condition is that —

        3. “Relevant benefit week”

          1. 5.In this Part of this Schedule, “relevant benefit week” means...

      2. Part 2 Income-related allowance

        1. 6.(1) The conditions are that the claimant—

    2. SCHEDULE 1A

      Persons dependent on drugs etc.

      1. 1.Requirements imposed in relation to use of drugs

      2. 2.(1) Regulations may make provision for or in connection with...

      3. 3.(1) Regulations may make provision for or in connection with...

      4. 4.Paragraphs 1 to 3: supplementary

      5. 5.Voluntary and mandatory rehabilitation plans

      6. 6.(1) Regulations may make provision for or in connection with...

      7. 7.Sanctions

      8. 8.Information

      9. 9.Interpretation

      10. 10.Power to extend provisions to alcohol

    3. SCHEDULE 2

      Employment and support allowance: supplementary provisions

      1. Limited capability for work

        1. 1.Regulations may make provision— (a) for a person to be...

      2. Waiting days

        1. 2.Except in prescribed circumstances, a person is not entitled to...

      3. Periods of less than a week

        1. 3.Regulations may make provision in relation to—

      4. Linking periods

        1. 4.(1) Regulations may provide for circumstances in which a period...

        2. 4A.Regulations may prescribe circumstances in which a person may be...

      5. Presence in Great Britain

        1. 5.Regulations may make provision for the purposes of this Part...

      6. Contributory allowance: entitlement in case of absence from Great Britain

        1. 6.Regulations may provide that in prescribed circumstances a claimant who...

      7. Contributory allowance: modification in relation to employment on ships etc.

        1. 7.(1) Regulations may modify any provision of this Part, so...

      8. Income-related allowance: entitlement in case of absence from Great Britain

        1. 8.(1) Regulations may provide that in prescribed circumstances a claimant...

      9. Limited capability for work-related activity

        1. 9.Regulations may make provision— (a) for a person to be...

      10. Effect of work

        1. 10.Regulations may prescribe circumstances in which a person is to...

      11. Treatment of allowance as “benefit”

        1. 11.Regulations may provide for— (a) an employment and support allowance,...

      12. Attribution of reductions in cases where allowance taken to consist of two elements

        1. 12.Where an employment and support allowance is taken by virtue...

      13. Treatment of information supplied as information relating to social security

        1. 13.Information supplied in pursuance of regulations under any of sections...

      14. Advance claims

        1. 14.This Part shall have effect with prescribed modifications in relation...

      15. Members of the forces

        1. 15.(1) Regulations may modify— (a) any provision of this Part,...

    4. SCHEDULE 3

      Consequential amendments relating to Part 1

      1. Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (c. 49)

        1. 1.In section 78(2A) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968...

      2. Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 41)

        1. 2.In section 53(3) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (pupils...

      3. Transport Act 1982 (c. 49)

        1. 3.In section 70 of the Transport Act 1982 (payments in...

      4. Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 47)

        1. 4.(1) The Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 is amended as...

      5. Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (c. 1)

        1. 5.(1) Section 347B of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act...

      6. Children Act 1989 (c. 41)

        1. 6.(1) The Children Act 1989 is amended as follows.

      7. Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48)

        1. 7.(1) The Child Support Act 1991 is amended as follows....

      8. Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53)

        1. 8.In section 24 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (recovery...

      9. Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4)

        1. 9.(1) The Contributions and Benefits Act is amended as follows....

      10. Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5)

        1. 10.(1) The Administration Act is amended as follows.

      11. Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c. 14)

        1. 11.(1) The Local Government Finance Act 1992 is amended as...

      12. Jobseekers Act 1995 (c. 18)

        1. 12.(1) The Jobseekers Act 1995 is amended as follows.

      13. Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26)

        1. 13.In Schedule 4 to the Pensions Act 1995 (equalisation of...

      14. Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 36)

        1. 14.In section 22 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (promotion...

      15. Employment Tribunals Act 1996 (c. 17)

        1. 15.(1) The Employment Tribunals Act 1996 is amended as follows....

      16. Education Act 1996 (c. 56)

        1. 16.(1) The Education Act 1996 is amended as follows.

      17. Social Security Act 1998 (c. 14)

        1. 17.(1) The Social Security Act 1998 is amended as follows....

      18. Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30)

        1. 18.In section 72 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act...

      19. Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (c. 33)

        1. 19.In section 115 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999...

      20. Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19)

        1. 20.(1) The Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000...

      21. Local Government Act 2000 (c. 22)

        1. 21.In section 94 of the Local Government Act 2000 (disclosure...

      22. Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 4)

        1. 22.(1) The Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 is amended...

      23. Social Security Fraud Act 2001 (c. 11)

        1. 23.(1) The Social Security Fraud Act 2001 is amended as...

      24. Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c. 1)

        1. 24.(1) The Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 is...

    5. SCHEDULE 4

      Transition relating to Part 1

      1. General power to provide for transition relating to Part 1

        1. 1.(1) Regulations may make such provision as the Secretary of...

      2. Pre-commencement claims

        1. 2.Regulations may— (a) make provision for a claim for incapacity...

      3. Post-commencement claims

        1. 3.Regulations may— (a) make provision excluding the making of a...

      4. Award of employment and support allowance for pre-commencement period

        1. 4.Regulations may— (a) make provision for an employment and support...

      5. Matching of awards of employment and support allowance

        1. 5.(1) For the purposes of this paragraph, an award of...

        2. 6.(1) For the purposes of this paragraph an award of...

      6. Treatment of existing awards

        1. 7.(1) Regulations may— (a) make provision for converting existing awards...

      7. Transitional allowances

        1. 8.(1) Regulations may— (a) make provision for a person's continuing...

        2. 9.(1) Regulations may prescribe circumstances in which a person who...

      8. Post-commencement up-rating of incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance

        1. 10.Regulations may provide for section 150 of the Administration Act...

      9. Interpretation

        1. 11.In this Schedule— “appointed day” means the day appointed for...

    6. SCHEDULE 5

      Minor and consequential amendments relating to Part 2

      1. Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4)

        1. 1.(1) The Contributions and Benefits Act is amended as follows....

      2. Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5)

        1. 2.The Administration Act is amended as follows.

        2. 3.In section 134 (arrangements for housing benefit)—

        3. 4.In section 139 (arrangements for council tax benefit)—

        4. 5.In section 139E (information about attainment of standards), in subsection...

        5. 6.(1) Section 139F (enforcement notices) is amended as follows.

        6. 7.(1) Section 139G (enforcement determinations) is amended as follows.

        7. 8.(1) In section 140A(2)(c) (subsidies to certain authorities), for “or...

        8. 9.In section 140B(5A) (calculation of amount of subsidy), for “section...

        9. 10.In section 191 (interpretation), in the definition of “prescribe” at...

      3. Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (c. 39)

        1. 11.In Schedule 13 to the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act...

      4. Housing Act 1996 (c. 52)

        1. 12.In section 122(5) of the Housing Act 1996 for “regulations...

      5. Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19)

        1. 13.In Schedule 7 to the Child Support, Pensions and Social...

      6. Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33)

        1. 14.In Schedule 24 to the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (amendments...

    7. SCHEDULE 6

      Schedule to be inserted in the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979

    8. SCHEDULE 7

      Minor and consequential amendments relating to Part 4

      1. Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 (c. 17)

        1. 1.(1) The Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 is amended as...

      2. Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4)

        1. 2.(1) The Contributions and Benefits Act is amended as follows....

      3. Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5)

        1. 3.(1) The Administration Act is amended as follows.

      4. Social Security Act 1998 (c. 14)

        1. 4.In section 38(7) of the Social Security Act 1998 (principles...

    9. SCHEDULE 8

      Repeals

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