Regulations may make provision for the making of additional payments by way of universal credit to a claimant ("hardship payments") where—
the amount of the claimant's award is reduced under section 26 or 27, and
the claimant is or will be in hardship.
Regulations under this section may in particular make provision as to—
circumstances in which a claimant is to be treated as being or not being in hardship;
matters to be taken into account in determining whether a claimant is or will be in hardship;
requirements or conditions to be met by a claimant in order to receive hardship payments;
the amount or rate of hardship payments;
the period for which hardship payments may be made;
whether hardship payments are recoverable.