Social Security (Additional Payments) Act 2023

1 Means-tested additional payments: main payments

(1) The Secretary of State must secure that—

(a) a single payment of £301 is made to any person who has a qualifying entitlement to a social security benefit in respect of the first qualifying day,

(b) a single payment of £300 is made to any person who has a qualifying entitlement to a social security benefit in respect of the second qualifying day, and

(c) a single payment of £299 is made to any person who has a qualifying entitlement to a social security benefit in respect of the third qualifying day.

(2) HMRC must secure that—

(a) a single payment of £301 is made to any person who has a qualifying entitlement to child tax credit or working tax credit, but not to a social security benefit, in respect of the first qualifying day,

(b) a single payment of £300 is made to any person who has a qualifying entitlement to child tax credit or working tax credit, but not to a social security benefit, in respect of the second qualifying day, and

(c) a single payment of £299 is made to any person who has a qualifying entitlement to child tax credit or working tax credit, but not to a social security benefit, in respect of the third qualifying day.

(3) The social security benefits are—

(a) universal credit under the Welfare Reform Act 2012 or the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I. 1));

(b) state pension credit under the State Pension Credit Act 2002 or the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002;

(c) an income-based jobseeker’s allowance under the Jobseekers Act 1995 or the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/2705 (N.I. 15));

(d) an income-related employment and support allowance under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 or Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007;

(e) income support under section 124 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 or section 123 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992.

(4) The first qualifying day is such day, not later than 30 April 2023, as may be specified by the Secretary of State in regulations.

(5) Regulations under subsection (4) may specify a day before this Act or the regulations are in force.

(6) The second qualifying day is such day, not later than 31 October 2023, as may be specified by the Secretary of State in regulations.

(7) The third qualifying day is such day, not later than 29 February 2024, as may be specified by the Secretary of State in regulations.

(8) Regulations under subsections (6) and (7) may specify a day before the regulations are in force.

(9) In this section, and in sections 2 to 4, references to a “person” are to an individual or to a couple (but not to each member of a couple separately).