The Universal Credit (Housing Costs Element for claimants aged 18 to 21) (Amendment) Regulations 2017

Saving for claimants not living in a digital service area

3.—(1) The amendments made by these Regulations do not apply to an award of universal credit unless it is—

(a) an award to which a person has become entitled by reference to residence in a digital service area (whether or not the person is still living in that area);

(b) an award to which a person who is living in a digital service area is entitled (whether or not the person was living in that area at the time that person became entitled);

(c) an award, not falling within sub-paragraph (a) or (b), to which a person who has lived in a digital service area at any time after it became a digital service area is entitled but only if that award has been administered on the digital service computer system;

(d) an award not falling within sub-paragraphs (a) to (c)—

(i) which is made to members of a couple jointly as a consequence of a previous award having ended when the couple formed; or

(ii) which is made to a single claimant as a consequence of a previous award having ended when the claimant ceased to be a member of a couple,

where that previous award was administered on the digital service computer system.

(2) Where the date on which these Regulations first apply to an existing award of universal credit by virtue of paragraph (1)(b) is not the first day of an assessment period, they are not to have effect in relation to that award until the first day of the next assessment period.

(3) In this regulation—

“a digital service area” means—

(a)

postcode districts SM5 2, SM6 7 and SM6 8; and

(b)

an area in respect of which no restrictions have been imposed in order for the universal credit provisions to come into force on a claim for universal credit (apart from with respect to residence and the date on which, or period in respect of which, universal credit is claimed) by an order under section 150 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 or an area (apart from that referred to in (a)) in respect of which such restrictions have been, but are no longer, imposed;

“the digital service computer system” is the computer system operated by the Secretary of State in digital service areas;

“universal credit provisions” means the provisions listed in Schedule 2 to the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (Commencement No. 9 and Transitional and Transitory Provisions and Commencement No. 8 and Savings and Transitional Provisions (Amendment)) Order 2013(1).

(1)

S.I. 2013/983, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.