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Welfare Reform Act 2012
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- Original: King's Printer Version
- Revised Version 31/3/2019
- Revised Version 30/11/2018
- Revised Version 28/2/2018
- Revised Version 31/8/2017
- Revised Version 31/3/2017
- Revised Version 31/5/2016
- Revised Version 31/8/2015
- Revised Version 28/2/2015
- Revised Version 30/11/2014
- Correction Slip - 01/07/2013
- Correction Slip - 07/06/2013
Changes to legislation:
Welfare Reform Act 2012, Section 4 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 21 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 4:
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2013/1511 by S.I. 2017/57 art. 5 13 14 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2013/2657 by S.I. 2016/596 art. 4-6 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2013/2657 by S.I. 2017/57 art. 13 15 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2013/2846 by S.I. 2016/596 art. 3 4 7 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2013/983 by S.I. 2018/138 art. 3
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2013/983 by S.I. 2019/10 reg. 3(1)
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2013/983 by S.I. 2019/167 art. 5(2)
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2013/983, art. 5A(1), 6(1) by S.I. 2017/483 art. 2
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2014/1583 by S.I. 2017/664 art. 5 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2014/209 by S.I. 2016/596 art. 3 4 8 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2014/209 by S.I. 2017/57 art. 10 16 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2014/2321 by S.I. 2016/596 art. 5 9 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2014/2321 by S.I. 2016/963 art. 3 7 8 13 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2014/2321 by S.I. 2017/584 art. 5 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2014/2321 by S.I. 2017/664 art. 5 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/101 by S.I. 2016/596 art. 3-5 10 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/101 by S.I. 2016/963 art. 4 6-12 14 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/101 by S.I. 2017/57 art. 3-9 11 12 17 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/101 by S.I. 2017/584 art. 3 4 6-9 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/101 by S.I. 2017/664 art. 3-5 7-9 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/1537 by S.I. 2016/596 art. 3 4 11 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/1537 by S.I. 2016/963 art. 3-12 15 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/1537 by S.I. 2017/57 art. 3-7 9 12 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/1537 by S.I. 2017/584 art. 3 4 6-9 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/1537 by S.I. 2017/664 art. 3-9 Sch.
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/33 by S.I. 2018/138 art. 6
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/33 by S.I. 2019/10 reg. 3(2)
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/33 by S.I. 2019/167 art. 5(3)
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/33 by S.I. 2019/37 art. 5
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/33, art. 6(11) by S.I. 2017/483 art. 3
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/634 by S.I. 2018/138 art. 6
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/634 by S.I. 2019/10 reg. 3(3)
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/634 by S.I. 2019/167 art. 5(4)
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/634 by S.I. 2019/37 art. 5
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2015/634, art. 7(2) by S.I. 2017/376 reg. 4
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2016/596 by S.I. 2016/963 art. 17
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2019/37 by S.I. 2019/935 art. 2
- specified provision(s) modification of earlier commencing S.I. 2014/1583 by S.I. 2018/532 art. 3 Sch.
- specified provision(s) modification of earlier commencing S.I. 2014/2321 by S.I. 2018/532 art. 3 Sch.
- specified provision(s) modification of earlier commencing S.I. 2015/101 by S.I. 2018/532 art. 3 Sch.
- specified provision(s) modification of earlier commencing S.I. 2015/1537 by S.I. 2018/532 art. 3 Sch.
- specified provision(s) modification of earlier commencing S.I. 2015/634 by S.I. 2018/532 art. 5
4Basic conditionsE+W+S
This section has no associated Explanatory Notes
(1)For the purposes of section 3, a person meets the basic conditions who—
(a)is at least 18 years old,
(b)has not reached the qualifying age for state pension credit,
(c)is in Great Britain,
(d)is not receiving education, and
(e)has accepted a claimant commitment.
(2)Regulations may provide for exceptions to the requirement to meet any of the basic conditions (and, for joint claimants, may provide for an exception for one or both).
(3)For the basic condition in subsection (1)(a) regulations may specify a different minimum age for prescribed cases.
(4)For the basic condition in subsection (1)(b), the qualifying age for state pension credit is that referred to in section 1(6) of the State Pension Credit Act 2002.
(5)For the basic condition in subsection (1)(c) regulations may—
(a)specify circumstances in which a person is to be treated as being or not being in Great Britain;
(b)specify circumstances in which temporary absence from Great Britain is disregarded;
(c)modify the application of this Part in relation to a person not in Great Britain who is by virtue of paragraph (b) entitled to universal credit.
(6)For the basic condition in subsection (1)(d) regulations may—
(a)specify what “receiving education” means;
(b)specify circumstances in which a person is to be treated as receiving or not receiving education.
(7)For the basic condition in subsection (1)(e) regulations may specify circumstances in which a person is to be treated as having accepted or not accepted a claimant commitment.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Pt. 1 modified by 1995 c. 18, Sch. 1 para. 2(3) (as inserted (29.4.2013) by The Universal Credit (Consequential, Supplementary, Incidental and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/630), regs. 1(2), 10(b))
C2S. 4(1)(a) modified (29.4.2013) by The Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/376), regs. 1, 8
C3S. 4(1)(c) modified (29.4.2013) by The Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/376), regs. 1, 15
C4S. 4(1)(d) modified (29.4.2013) by The Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/376), regs. 1, 12
C5S. 4(1)(d) excluded (29.4.2013) by The Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/376), regs. 1, 14
C6S. 4(1)(d) restricted by S.I. 2014/1230, reg. 60 (as inserted (24.7.2019) by The Universal Credit (Managed Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1152), regs. 1(2), 3(7))
Commencement Information
I1S. 4(1)(4) in force at 29.4.2013 for specified purposes by S.I. 2013/983, art. 3(2)-(6), Sch. 1, Sch. 2 (as amended: (1.7.2013) by S.I. 2013/1511; (29.10.2013) by S.I. 2013/2657; (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (15.9.2014) by S.I. 2014/2321; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (21.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3094; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32 (as amended (10.2.2015) by S.I. 2015/101); (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (23.11.2015) by S.I. 2015/1930; (6.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/483; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (16.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/10; and (31.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/167)
I2S. 4(1)(4) in force at 1.7.2013 and 29.7.2013 for specified purposes by S.I. 2013/1511, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (29.10.2013) by S.I. 2013/2657; (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; and (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138)
I3S. 4(1)(4) in force at 28.10.2013 for specified purposes by S.I. 2013/2657, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; and (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138)
I4S. 4(1)(4) in force at 25.11.2013 for specified purposes by S.I. 2013/2846, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; and (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596)
I5S. 4(1)(4) in force at 24.2.2014 and 7.4.2014 for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/209, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2105) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; and (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57)
I6S. 4(1)(4) in force at 23.6.2014 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/1583, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; and (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881)
I7S. 4(1)(4) in force at 15.9.2014 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/2321, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3057; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (29.9.2016) by S.I. 2016/963; (24.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/584; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; and (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881)
I8S. 4(1)(4) in force at 26.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/3094, art. 3 (with art. 6)
I9S. 4(1)(4) in force at 28.1.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/33, art. 3 (with art. 6) (as amended: (11.2.2015) by S.I. 2015/101; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (6.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/483; (11.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (16.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/10; (15.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/37; and (31.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/167)
I10S. 4(1)(4) in force at 16.2.2015 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/101, art. 3 (with art. 2(2)-(4)) (as amended or modified: (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/534; (17.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/740; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (14.1.2016) by S.I. 2016/33; (21.3.2016) by S.I. 2016/407; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (29.9.2016) by S.I. 2016/963; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; (24.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/584; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; and (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881)
I11S. 4(1)(4) in force at 18.3.2015 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/634, art. 3 (with arts. 5, 7) (as amended or modified: (17.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/740; (21.3.2016) by S.I. 2016/407; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (29.9.2016) by S.I. 2016/963; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; (6.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/376; (24.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/584; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881; (16.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/10; (15.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/37; and (31.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/167)
I12S. 4(1)(4) in force at 21.9.2015 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1537, art. 3 (as amended or modified: (23.11.2015) by S.I. 2015/1930; (14.1.2016) by S.I. 2016/33; (21.3.2016) by S.I. 2016/407; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (29.9.2016) by S.I. 2016/963; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; (24.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/584; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; and (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881)
I13S. 4(1)(4) in force at 2.12.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1930, art. 3 (with art. 7)
I14S. 4(1)(4) in force at 27.1.2016 and 24.2.2016 for specified purposes by S.I. 2016/33, art. 3, Sch. (with art. 7)
I15S. 4(1)(4) in force at 23.3.2016 and 27.4.2016 for specified purposes by S.I. 2016/407, art. 3, Sch.
I16S. 4(1)(4) in force at 1.2.2019 for specified purposes by S.I. 2019/167, art. 4(1)-(3) (with art. 4(4)(11))
I17S. 4(1)(4) in force at 30.3.2022 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2022/302, art. 3 (with arts. 4, 5, Sch.)
I18S. 4(2)(3) (5)-(7) in force at 25.2.2013 by S.I. 2013/358, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 para. 2
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