These regs, due to be introduced at the beginning of August 2015, in effect introduced a 7 day “waiting day” period for Housing Benefit. This would mean a new claimant to UC (with some limited exceptions), moving into a new address perhaps, would start with one week arrears; there being no entitlement to housing costs in particular for the first week of claim. Some social landlords have been asking for higher up front payments from new tenants as a result.

The social security advisory committee felt this was not a good idea and urged the Government to drop it. The latter rejected this advice.

However, the House of Lords have intervened.

Peers voted, by 135 to 124, in favour of a motion introduced by Baroness Sherlock –

‘That this House calls on Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Social Security Advisory Committee’s Report of June 2015, to delay the enactment of the Universal Credit (Waiting Days) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 until universal credit is fully rolled out’

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201516/ldhansrd/text/150713-0002.htm#15071315000062