Universal Credit, State Pension Credit and the Social Fund is Volume II of the restructured series Social Security Legislation 2025/26. Universal credit has now become the default means-tested working-age benefit for new claims in the social security system. Volume II covers not only universal credit, but also state pension credit as the means-tested benefit available to those over pension age and social fund provisions for maternity and funeral expenses and for cold weather payments, plus associated rules on persons subject to immigration control.
As in 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25, no new edition of Volume V has been published this year, as the number of remaining recipients of income support and old style ESA and JSA will continue to fall drastically as managed migration to universal credit nears completion, so a section in this volume incorporates both the updating to Volume V 2021/22 already provided in past editions and subsequent amendments up to April 7, 2025.As with all the volumes in the series, Volume II provides the relevant legislative text, clearly showing the form and date of amendments, up to date to April 7, 2025, with detailed explanatory commentary, including reference to all relevant decisions of the courts, the Upper Tribunal and the former Social Security Commissioners. The authoritative and comprehensive analysis of many important topics and decisions has been further expanded in this edition.
Apart from routine amendments and new decisions, this edition now includes the main tax provisions incorporated into universal credit legislation. Significant cases covered include the Upper Tribunal decision in Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v MJ (UC) [2025] UKUT 35 (AAC) on the discriminatory effect of some provisions on transitional protection on managed migration and Roberts v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] EWHC 51 (Admin) on fairness in the process of making deductions for rent arrears.
The editorial team has brought together its academic and practical expertise and knowledge of social security law to produce a guide that will be essential for tribunal judges, members and staff, barristers, solicitors, welfare rights advisers and students.
