Severe conditions criteria

From 6 April 2026, universal credit claimants are entitled to a higher protected rate of the LCWRA element if they meet the severe conditions criteria.

A claimant meets the severe conditions criteria if they meet one of the descriptors under the assessment for LCWRA due to a specific bodily disease or disablement that constantly applies to the claimant, that will do so for the rest of the claimant’s life, and that has been diagnosed by an appropriately qualified health care professional in the course of the provision of health and social care services.

Legislation

Legislation provides that, from 6 April 2026, universal credit claimants are entitled to a higher protected rate of the LCWRA element if they meet the severe conditions criteria.

Sources:

• Regulation 40A of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (SI.No.376/2013), and regulation 41A of the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (SR.No.216/2016) (to be inserted by Schedule 1 paragraph 6 (Great Britain) and Schedule 2 paragraph 2(6) (Northern Ireland) of the Universal Credit Act 2025).

Case law

There is currently no case law in relation to the severe conditions criteria