Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.–(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Housing Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and, subject to paragraph (2), shall come into operation on 21st December 2009.

(2) Regulations 2(4) to (6) and 3(4) to (7) shall come into operation–

(a) in relation to any case where rent is payable at intervals of a week or any multiple of a week, on 5th April 2010; and

(b) in any other case, on 1st April 2010.

(3) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(6) shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations

2.–(1) The Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(7) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (6).

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation) after the definition of "the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations"(8) insert–

""equity-sharing lease" means a lease of land, the general effect of which is to provide–

(3) In regulation 13(2)(a) (rent) after "owner" insert "except under an equity-sharing lease in respect of payments specified in paragraph (1)(a) and (e)".

(4) In regulation 99 (method of recovery)–

(a) omit paragraph (2);

(b) in paragraph (3)(9) omit "(2),";

(c) in paragraph (5) after "Schedule 5" insert ", or paragraph 10A of that Schedule in a case where the amount of earnings to be disregarded under that paragraph is the amount referred to in regulation 45(2) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations or regulation 17(2) of the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995(10),"; and

(d) in paragraph (6) omit ", except as made under paragraph (2),".

(5) After regulation 101 (sums to be deducted in calculating recoverable overpayments) insert–

"Sums to be deducted in calculating recoverable overpayments where the claimant has changed dwelling

101A.–(1) (1)This regulation applies where an overpayment has occurred in the following circumstances–

(a) a claimant has moved from the dwelling previously occupied as his home ("dwelling A") to another dwelling which he occupies as his home ("dwelling B");

(b) the claimant has been awarded housing benefit in the form of a rent allowance in respect of dwelling A to which he is not entitled because he is no longer occupying or treated as occupying dwelling A as his home; and

(c) housing benefit is paid to the same person in respect of the claimant´s occupation of dwelling B as it was paid to in respect of dwelling A.

(2) Where this regulation applies, in calculating the amount of the overpayment which is recoverable the relevant authority may at its discretion deduct an amount equal to the claimant´s weekly entitlement to housing benefit in respect of dwelling B for the number of benefit weeks equal to the number of weeks during which the claimant was overpaid housing benefit in respect of dwelling A.

(3) Where a sum has been deducted under paragraph (2), an equivalent sum shall be treated as having been paid in respect of the claimant´s entitlement to housing benefit in respect of dwelling B for the number of benefit weeks equal to the number of weeks during which the claimant was overpaid housing benefit in respect of dwelling A.".

(6) In Schedule 5 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings)–

(a) after paragraph 10 insert–

"10A.–(1) Where–

(a) the claimant (or if the claimant is a member of a couple, at least one member of that couple) is a person to whom sub-paragraph (5) applies;

(b) the Department is satisfied that that person is undertaking exempt work as defined in sub-paragraph (6); and

(c) paragraph 12 does not apply,

the amount specified in sub-paragraph (7) ("the specified amount").

(2) Where this paragraph applies, paragraphs 3 to 10 do not apply; but in any case where the claimant is a lone parent, and the specified amount would be less than the amount specified in paragraph 4, then paragraph 4 applies instead of this paragraph.

(3) Notwithstanding regulation 22, if sub-paragraph (1) applies to one member of a couple ("A") it shall not apply to the other member of that couple ("B") except to the extent provided in sub-paragraph (4).

(4) Where A´s earnings are less than the specified amount, there shall also be disregarded so much of B´s earnings as would not when aggregated with A´s earnings exceed the specified amount; but the amount of B´s earnings which may be disregarded under this sub-paragraph is limited to a maximum of £20 unless the Department is satisfied that B is also undertaking exempt work.

(5) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is–

(a) in receipt of a contributory employment and support allowance;

(b) in receipt of incapacity benefit;

(c) in receipt of severe disablement allowance; or

(d) being credited with earnings on the grounds of incapacity for work or limited capability for work under regulation 8B of the Social Security (Credits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975(11).

(6) "Exempt work" means, as the case may be, work of the kind described in–

(a) regulation 45(2), (3) or (4) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations(12); or

(b) regulation 17(2), (3) or (4) of the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995,

and, in determining for the purposes of this paragraph whether a claimant or a member of a couple is undertaking any type of exempt work, it is immaterial whether that person or their partner is also undertaking other work.

(7) The specified amount is the amount of money mentioned in any provision referred to in sub-paragraph (6) by virtue of which the work referred to in sub-paragraph (1) is exempt (or, where more than one such provision is relevant and those provisions mention different amounts of money, the highest of those amounts)."; and

(b) in paragraph 17(1)(13) for "paragraphs 3 to 10" substitute "paragraphs 3 to 10A".

Amendment of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations

3.–(1) The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(14) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (7).

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation) after the definition of "the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations"(15) insert–

""equity-sharing lease" means a lease of land, the general effect of which is to provide–

(3) In regulation 13(2)(a) (rent) after "owner" insert "except under an equity-sharing lease in respect of payments specified in paragraph (1)(a) and (e)".

(4) In regulation 25(4)(d) (calculation of claimant´s income and capital in savings credit only cases) after "paragraph" insert "5A or".

(5) In regulation 80 (method of recovery)–

(a) omit paragraph (2);

(b) in paragraph (3)(16) omit "(2),";

(c) in paragraph (5) after "Schedule 5" insert ", or paragraph 5A of that Schedule in a case where the amount of earnings to be disregarded under that paragraph is the amount referred to in regulation 45(2) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations or regulation 17(2) of the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995,"; and

(d) in paragraph (6) omit ", except as made under paragraph (2),".

(6) After regulation 82 (sums to be deducted in calculating recoverable overpayments) insert–

"Sums to be deducted in calculating recoverable overpayments where the claimant has changed dwelling

82A.–(1) (1)This regulation applies where an overpayment has occurred in the following circumstances–

(a) a claimant has moved from the dwelling previously occupied as his home ("dwelling A") to another dwelling which he occupies as his home ("dwelling B");

(b) the claimant has been awarded housing benefit in the form of a rent allowance in respect of dwelling A to which he is not entitled because he is no longer occupying or treated as occupying dwelling A as his home; and

(c) housing benefit is paid to the same person in respect of the claimant´s occupation of dwelling B as it was paid to in respect of dwelling A.

(2) Where this regulation applies, in calculating the amount of the overpayment which is recoverable the relevant authority may at its discretion deduct an amount equal to the claimant´s weekly entitlement to housing benefit in respect of dwelling B for the number of benefit weeks equal to the number of weeks during which the claimant was overpaid housing benefit in respect of dwelling A.

(3) Where a sum has been deducted under paragraph (2), an equivalent sum shall be treated as having been paid in respect of the claimant´s entitlement to housing benefit in respect of dwelling B for the number of benefit weeks equal to the number of weeks during which the claimant was overpaid housing benefit in respect of dwelling A.".

(7) In Schedule 5 (sums disregarded from claimant´s earnings) after paragraph 5 insert–

"5A.–(1) Where–

(a) the claimant (or if the claimant is a member of a couple, at least one member of that couple) is a person to whom sub-paragraph (5) applies;

(b) the Department is satisfied that that person is undertaking exempt work as defined in sub-paragraph (6); and

(c) regulation 24 does not apply,

the amount specified in sub-paragraph (7) ("the specified amount").

(2) Where this paragraph applies, paragraphs 1 to 5 and 7 do not apply; but in any case where the claimant is a lone parent, and the specified amount would be less than the amount specified in paragraph 2, then paragraph 2 applies instead of this paragraph.

(3) Notwithstanding regulation 21, if sub-paragraph (1) applies to one member of a couple ("A") it shall not apply to the other member of that couple ("B") except to the extent provided in sub-paragraph (4).

(4) Where A´s earnings are less than the specified amount, there shall also be disregarded so much of B´s earnings as would not when aggregated with A´s earnings exceed the specified amount; but the amount of B´s earnings which may be disregarded under this sub-paragraph is limited to a maximum of £20 unless the Department is satisfied that B is also undertaking exempt work.

(5) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is–

(a) in receipt of a contributory employment and support allowance;

(b) in receipt of incapacity benefit;

(c) in receipt of severe disablement allowance; or

(d) being credited with earnings on the grounds of incapacity for work or limited capability for work under regulation 8B of the Social Security (Credits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975.

(6) "Exempt work" means, as the case may be, work of the kind described in–

(a) regulation 45(2), (3) or (4) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations; or

(b) regulation 17(2), (3) or (4) of the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995,

and, in determining for the purposes of this paragraph whether a claimant or a member of a couple is undertaking any type of exempt work, it is immaterial whether that person or their partner is also undertaking other work.

(7) The specified amount is the amount of money mentioned in any provision referred to in sub-paragraph (6) by virtue of which the work referred to in sub-paragraph (1) is exempt (or, where more than one such provision is relevant and those provisions mention different amounts of money, the highest of those amounts).".

Amendment of the Housing Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations

4. In Schedule 3 to the Housing Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(17) (transitional and savings provisions) in paragraph 5(1) in regulation 13(2)(a) (rent) as set out in that paragraph after "owner" insert "except under an equity-sharing lease in respect of payments specified in paragraph (1)(a) and (e)".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 ("the Housing Benefit Regulations"), the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 and the Housing Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006.

Regulation 2(2) and (3) makes amendments to clarify that a particular provision does not apply to equity-sharers.

Regulation 2(4)(a), (b) and (d) makes amendments consequential to the insertion of regulation 101A into the Housing Benefit Regulations and regulation 2(4)(c) makes an amendment consequential to the insertion of paragraph 10A into Schedule 5 to those Regulations.

Regulation 2(5) inserts regulation 101A into the Housing Benefit Regulations. That regulation applies where there has been an overpayment of housing benefit in the form of a rent allowance because a claimant has moved out of the dwelling which he occupied as his home, to another dwelling which he occupies as his home. It only applies where housing benefit is payable to the same person in respect of both dwellings. In these cases, the amount of the overpayment which is recoverable is the difference between the amount of housing benefit overpaid in respect of the first property and the amount of housing benefit the claimant would have been entitled to in respect of the second property for the same period.

Regulation 2(6) inserts paragraph 10A into Schedule 5 to the Housing Benefit Regulations so as to provide an additional earnings disregard where a claimant or their partner is in receipt of a contributory employment and support allowance or incapacity benefit (or is being awarded credits to protect their National Insurance record on the grounds of incapacity for work or limited capability for work), or is in receipt of severe disablement allowance, and undertaking work which is classified as exempt work. The level of the disregard is set at the same level as the amount of money they are permitted to earn through exempt work, unless they are entitled to a higher sum under the existing earnings disregard for a lone parent. Where the claimant is a member of a couple the disregard is shared between them, so if one member of the couple earns less than the amount of the disregard, the earnings of the other may be disregarded to bring the total amount disregarded up to the appropriate level. However, where one of them is not undertaking any exempt work, the amount of that person´s earnings which may be disregarded is subject to a maximum limit of £20. Where a claimant or their partner is in receipt of income support, an income-based jobseeker´s allowance, an income-related employment and support allowance or the guarantee element of state pension credit, they will already have all their earnings disregarded under other provisions.

Regulation 3 makes equivalent amendments to the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006.

Regulation 4 makes an amendment, equivalent to that made by regulation 2(3), to the Housing Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006.

In so far as these Regulations are required, for the purposes of regulations 2(2), (3), (4)(c) and (6), 3(2) to (4), (5)(c) and (7) and 4, to be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee under section 149(2) of the Administration Act, after agreement by the Social Security Advisory Committee, they have not been so referred by virtue of section 150(1)(b) of that Act. Otherwise they make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, that Act, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.