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 (excepting periods of less than six months where there was no entitlememnt to universal credit due to income), 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. It also includes claimants awaiting a new or repeat work capability assessment prior to 6 April 2026 who are subsequently found to have LCWRA on or after that date.

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 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).
• Schedule 5A of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (SI.No.376/2013) (to be inserted by the Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (Rates of Allowances) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI.No.113/2026)).

Case law

There is currently no case law in relation to a pre-April 2026 claimant.