Pre-April 2026 claimant
From 6 April 2026, universal credit claimants are entitled to a higher protected rate of the LCWRA element if they qualify as a pre-April 2026 claimant.
A pre-April 2026 claimant is a person who was entitled at any time before 6 April 2026 to an award of universal credit that included the LCWRA element and has been entitled to an award of universal credit that included the LCWRA element continuously from that time, or was entitled to the support component of income-related ESA before that date and have that status continuously until such time as they make a claim for universal credit after 6 April 2026.
Legislation
Legislation provides that, from 6 April 2026, universal credit claimants are entitled to a higher protected rate of the LCWRA element if they are a pre-April 2026 claimant.
Sources:
- Regulation 28A of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (SI.No.376/2013), and regulation 28A of the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (SR.No.216/2016) (to be inserted by Schedule 1 paragraph 2(6) (Great Britain) and Schedule 2 paragraph 2(6) (Northern Ireland) of the Universal Credit Act 2025).
- Regulation 27A of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (SI.No.376/2013), and regulation 28A of the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (SR.No.216/2016) (to be inserted by Schedule 1 paragraph 4 (Great Britain) and Schedule 2 paragraph 2(4) (Northern Ireland) of the Universal Credit Act 2025).
Case law
There is currently no case law in relation to a pre-April 2026 claimant.