PART IGENERAL

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) This Order, which may be cited as the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Subsidy) Order 1996, shall come into force on 3rd June 1996.

(2) In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires-

"the Act" means the Social Security Administration Act 1992;

"period overrun" has the meaning assigned to it by paragraph 1 of Schedule 4;

"relevant year" means the year ending 31st March 1996;

"the 1991 Order" means the Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit (Subsidy) Order 1991(3);

"the 1992 Order" means the Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit (Subsidy) Order 1992(4);

"the 1993 Order" means the Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit (Subsidy) (No. 2) Order 1993(5);

"the 1994 Order" means the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Subsidy) Order 1994(6), and

"the 1995 Order" means the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Subsidy) Order 1995(7).

(3) In this Order, a reference to a numbered article or Schedule is to the article in, or Schedule to, this Order bearing that number and, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference in an article or a Schedule to a numbered paragraph or Part is to the paragraph or Part, as the case may be, bearing that number in that article or that Schedule.

PART IIHOUSING BENEFIT SUBSIDY

Interpretation of Part II

2.-(1) In this Part of this Order, unless the context otherwise requires-

"allowance" means a rent allowance;

"authority" means a housing or, as the case may be, local authority;

"board and lodging accommodation" means-

but it does not include accommodation in a residential care home or nursing home within the meaning of regulation 19(3) of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987(8) nor in a hostel within the meaning of regulation 12A of the Housing Benefit Regulations(9);

"development corporation" has the meaning ascribed to it in section 2 of the New Towns (Scotland) Act 1968(10);

"housing benefit subsidy" means subsidy under section 135(1) of the Act (rate rebate, rent rebate and allowance subsidy payable) and under section 30(1A) of the Social Security Act 1986(11);

"rebate" means a rent rebate excluding, in the case of England and Wales, any Housing Revenue Account rebates(12);

"scheme" means the housing benefit scheme as defined in section 123 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992(13);

"the Housing Benefit Regulations" means the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987(14);

"the Rent Officers Order" means the Rent Officers (Additional Functions) Order 1990(15), the Rent Officers (Additional Functions) (Scotland) Order 1990(16), the Rent Officers (Additional Functions) Order 1995(17) or the Rent Officers (Additional Functions) (Scotland) Order 1995(18), as the case may be:

"the Rent Officers Order 1990" means the Rent Officers (Additional Functions) Order 1990 or the Rent Officers (Additional Functions) (Scotland) Order 1990, as the case may be;

and other expressions used in this Part of this Order and in the Housing Benefit Regulations shall have the same meanings in this Order as in those Regulations.

(2) In this Part of this Order-

• "housing benefit qualifying expenditure" means the total of rebates and allowances, including any payments under regulation 91 of the Housing Benefit Regulations (payments on account of a rent allowance)(19), lawfully granted by the authority during the relevant year, less-

  (a)

  the deduction, if any, calculated for that authority in article 6;

  (b)

  any allowances to which paragraph (5) of article 8 or paragraph 7 of Schedule 6, as the case may be, apply;

  (c)

  any rebates to which paragraph (4) of article 9 applies;

  (d)

  the deductions specified in article 11, and

  (e)

  where, under subsection (8) of section 134 of the Act(20) (arrangements for housing benefit), the authority has modified any part of the scheme administered by it, any amount by which the total of the rebates or allowances which it granted under the scheme during the relevant year exceeds the total of those which it would have granted if the scheme had not been so modified.

Amount of housing benefit subsidy

3. The amount of an authority's housing benefit subsidy for the relevant year-

(a)for the purposes of section 135(2) of the Act (subsidy in respect of rebates or allowances) shall be the amount or total of the amounts calculated in accordance with article 4;

(b)for the purposes of section 135(5) of the Act (subsidy in respect of the costs of administering housing benefit) may include an additional sum in respect of the costs of administering housing benefit calculated in accordance with Schedules 1 and 2.

Rebates and allowances

4.-(1) Subject to any adjustment in accordance with paragraph (3), for the purposes of section 135(2) of the Act, an authority's housing benefit subsidy for the relevant year shall, subject to paragraph (2), be-

(a)in the case of an authority to which none of articles 5,7, 8 and 9(1) to (3) apply, 95 per cent. of its housing benefit qualifying expenditure;

(b)in the case of any authority to which at least one of those articles applies an amount equal to the aggregate of-

(i)95 per cent. of so much of its housing benefit qualifying expenditure as remains after deducting from total qualifying expenditure the amount of expenditure attributable to the rebates or allowances to which each of those articles which is relevant applies; and

(ii)the appropriate amount calculated in respect of the rebates or allowances under each such article,

plus, in each case, the additions, where applicable, under articles 9(5), 10 and 13(2), but subject, in each case, to the deductions, where applicable, under articles 12 and 13(3).

(2) Where the authority is the Scottish Homes or a development corporation, its housing benefit subsidy for the relevant year shall include a further sum being-

(a)in the case of an authority to which sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (1) applies, 5.5 per cent. of its housing benefit qualifying expenditure, but subject to the relevant maximum specified in column (2) of Schedule 3; or

(b)in the case of an authority to which sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (1) applies, 5.5 per cent. of so much of its housing benefit qualifying expenditure as remains after the deductions set out in paragraph (1)(b)(i), but subject to the relevant maximum specified in column (2) of Schedule 3.

(3) Where, during the relevant year there is a period overrun in respect of either rebates or allowances, or both, then the housing benefit subsidy for the authority for that year shall be adjusted by the deduction from the subsidy otherwise due under this article of-

(a)an amount equal to the percentage, as calculated in accordance with paragraph 2 of Schedule 4, of that part of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure for that authority attributable to expenditure in respect of allowances to the extent that the overrun relates to allowances; and

(b)an amount equal to the percentage, as calculated in accordance with paragraph 3 of Schedule 4, of that part of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure for that authority attributable to expenditure in respect of rebates to the extent that the overrun relates to rebates.

Backdated benefit

5.-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), where-

(a)during the relevant year an authority has, under paragraph (15) of regulation 72 of the Housing Benefit Regulations, treated any claim as made on a day earlier than that on which it is made; and

(b)any part of that authority's housing benefit qualifying expenditure is attributable to such earlier period,

for the purposes of article 4(1)(b)(ii), the appropriate amount for the relevant year in respect of such part shall be 50 per cent. of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure so attributable.

(2) This article shall not apply in a case to which article 10(1)(b)(ii) applies.

Disproportionate rent increase

6.-(1) Except where paragraph (5) or (6) applies, in the case of an authority in Scotland or the Development Board for Rural Wales, where the average rent increase differential, as calculated in accordance with paragraph (2) for such an authority has a value greater than zero, the deduction from housing benefit qualifying expenditure specified in article 2(2)(a) shall be that proportion of the sum calculated for that authority in accordance with paragraph (4).

(2) The average rent increase differential for each appropriate authority shall be calculated by applying the formula-

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)-

(a)the value of A shall be the proportion calculated for that authority pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (4) of article 6 of the 1995 Order;

(b)the value of B shall be the average rent charged by the authority in respect of Category 1 dwellings on the final date;

(c)the value of C shall be the average rent charged by the authority in respect of Category 1 dwellings on the specified date;

(d)the value of D shall be the average rent charged by the authority in respect of Category 2 dwellings on the specified date, and

(e)the value of E shall be the average rent charged by the authority in respect of Category 2 dwellings on the final date.

(4) The sum referred to in paragraph (1) shall be that part of housing benefit qualifying expenditure attributable to rent rebates granted during the relevant year before any deduction by reason of this article but less any part of such expenditure to which article 4(1)(b)(ii) applies.

(5) This article shall not apply in the case of an authority

(a)which has-

(i)set the rent for the relevant year according to the type, condition, class or description of the dwellings and the services, facilities or rights provided to the tenants, where that rent is reasonable having regard to those matters;

(ii)not taken account of whether a tenant was a beneficiary when setting rents for the relevant year, and

(iii)not let dwellings, either in the relevant year or in either of the two previous years, to beneficiaries irrespective of their housing needs;

or

(b)where-

(i)any increases in rent between the specified date and the final date were of the same percentage and applied on the same day to all tenants irrespective of whether they were beneficiaries, and

(ii)the average rent increase differential calculated in accordance with article 6 of the 1995 Order for that authority had a value which was zero or less than zero.

(6) This article shall also not apply in a case to which article 9 applies.

(7) In this article (and, in the case of the definition of "beneficiary", also in article 11(2))-

"average" means the arithmetic mean;

"beneficiary" means a person who is entitled or likely to become entitled to a rebate;

"Category 1 dwellings" means dwellings rented out by the authority on both the specified date and the final date in respect of which, on the final date, the persons liable to pay such rent were in receipt of rebates;

"Category 2 dwellings" means dwellings rented out by the authority on both the specified date and the final date in respect of which, on the final date, the persons liable to pay such rent were not in receipt of rebates;

"final date" means the 31st March 1996, but if that day falls in a rent-free period the date in March which is closest to it and which does not fall in a rent-free period;

"specified date" means the date in March 1995 which was defined as the final date for that authority in article 6(7) of the 1995 Order, and

"rent" means either-

as the authority may determine, provided that wherever the expression "rent" occurs in paragraph (3) it has the same meaning throughout in relation to that authority.

Treatment of high rents

7.-(1) Except in a case to which paragraph (2) applies, this article applies in a rent allowance case where the dwelling is an excluded tenancy by virtue of paragraph 1 and any of paragraphs 5 to 9 of Schedule 1A to the Housing Benefit Regulations(22) (excluded tenancies).

(2) This article does not apply in a case where-

(a)(i)a rent is registered in respect of a dwelling under Part IV, V or VI of the Rent Act 1977(23) or Part V, VI or VII of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984(24); or

(ii)an application has been made for such registration as is mentioned in head (i) above, but no such registration has been made because the rent officer or rent tribunal, as the case may be, are satisfied that the rent is at or below the fair rent level; or

(b)the relevant tenancy is one to which, before 15th January 1989, the provisions of sections 56 to 58 of the Housing Act 1980(25) (assured tenancies) applied; or

(c)the relevant dwelling is situated within the area of a housing action trust established under Part III of the Housing Act 1988 (Housing Action Trust Areas)(26); or

(d)the dwelling is an excluded tenancy by virtue of paragraph 3 or 10 of Schedule 1A to the Housing Benefit Regulations(27) (excluded tenancies).

(3) Where this article applies and any part of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure of an authority, whose area is or lies within an area identified in column (1) of Schedule 5, is attributable to any allowance granted in respect of a person whose weekly eligible rent exceeds the threshold specified in relation to that area in column (2) of that Schedule, for the purposes of article 4(1)(b)(ii), the appropriate amount in respect of that allowance shall be calculated in accordance with paragraph (4).

(4) Where paragraph (3) applies and

(a)the allowance granted is the same as or is less than the excess of eligible rent over the threshold, the appropriate amount shall be 25 per cent. of that part of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure attributable to such allowance;

(b)the allowance granted is greater than the excess of the eligible rent over the threshold, the appropriate amount shall be 25 per cent. of that part of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure attributable to such allowance which is equal to the excess, and 95 per cent. of that part of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure attributable to the balance.

Rent officers' determinations

8.-(1) Where this article applies, the appropriate amount, for the purposes of article 4(1)(b)(ii), shall be calculated in accordance with Schedule 6.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (6), (7) and (8), this article applies where-

(a)an authority applies to a rent officer for a determination to be made under the Rent Officers Order in relation to a dwelling; and

(b)the officer makes a determination under that Order,

except in a case to which article 5 applies.

(3) This article also applies in a case where-

(a)the dwelling (A) is in a hostel; and

(b)by virtue of regulation 12A(2) of the Housing Benefit Regulations(28) (exemptions from requirement to refer to rent officers) an application for a determination in respect of that dwelling (A) is not required because the dwelling is regarded as similar to another dwelling (B) in that hostel in respect of which a determination has been made, and in such a case the determination made in respect of dwelling (B) shall, for the purposes of this article, be treated as if it were a determination in respect of dwelling (A).

(4) This article also applies where a rent officer has made a determination in respect of a tenancy of a dwelling and by virtue of paragraph 2 of Schedule 1A to the Housing Benefit Regulations(29) (excluded tenancies) a new determination is not required in respect of another tenancy of the dwelling, and in such a case the determination made shall, for the purposes of this article, be treated as if it were a determination made in respect of that tenancy.

(5) This article also applies in a case where an authority is required, under regulation 12A of the Housing Benefit Regulations (requirement to refer to rent officer), to apply for a determination in relation to a dwelling during the relevant year which a rent officer would be required to make, but the authority fails to apply for that determination, and in such a case, except where paragraph (3) applies, any allowance granted shall, subject to article 11(4), be deducted from housing benefit qualifying expenditure pursuant to article 2(2)(b).

(6) Where a determination as to the rent which a landlord might reasonably be expected to obtain in respect of a dwelling is made, prior to 2nd October 1995, by a rent assessment committee following a determination made by a rent officer under paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Rent Officers Order 1990, this article shall cease to apply in so far as-

(a)regulation 7 of the Income-related Benefits Schemes and Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1995(30) (transitional provision) applies with respect to the rent assessment committee's determination; and

(b)that rent assessment committee's determination relates to a determination made by a rent officer under that paragraph of that Schedule,

from the date on which the rent assessment committee's determination takes effect.

(7) Where-

(a)a determination under paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Rent Officers Order 1990 has been made by the rent officer, and

(b)an application is made to the rent assessment committee and a determination to which paragraph (6)(a) refers is made by that committee prior to 2nd October 1995, and, had that application been made before the reference to the rent officer which led to that determination, the rent officer would, in accordance with article 5(2) of the Rent Officers Order 1990(31), not have made such a determination, this article shall cease to apply in so far as-

(i)regulation 7 of the Income-related Benefits Schemes and Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1995 (transitional provision) applies with respect to the rent assessment committee's determination; and

(ii)that rent assessment committee's determination relates to a determination under paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Rent Officers Order 1990,

from the date of that application, or 1st April 1995, whichever is the later date.

(8) Except in a case to which paragraph (9), (10) or (11) applies, this article shall not apply where a maximum rent has been determined.

(9) In a case where a maximum rent has been determined by reference to a reckonable rent and a local reference rent, the appropriate amount shall be calculated in accordance with paragraph 11 of Schedule 6.

(10) In a case where, prior to the determination of a maximum rent, a payment was made pursuant to regulation 91 (payment on account) of the Housing Benefit Regulations(32), the appropriate amount shall be calculated in accordance with paragraph 6 of Schedule 6.

(11) In a case to which regulation 11(9) (maximum rent) of the Housing Benefit Regulations(33) applies, the appropriate amount shall be calculated in accordance with paragraph 12 of Schedule 6.

Additions in respect of homeless and short lease rebates

9.-(1) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), where paragraph (3) applies, and any part of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure of an authority identified in column (1) of Schedule 7 attributable to any rebate granted in respect of a person whose weekly eligible rent exceeds the threshold specified in relation to that authority in column (2) of that Schedule, then for the purposes of article 4(1)(b)(ii), the appropriate amount in respect of that rebate shall be calculated in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) Where paragraph (1) applies-

(a)if the rebate granted is the same as or is less than the amount by which the eligible rent exceeds the threshold, the appropriate amount shall be 25 per cent. of that part of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure attributable to such rebates;

(b)if the rebate granted is greater than the amount by which the eligible rent exceeds the threshold, the appropriate amount shall be 25 per cent. of that part of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure attributable to such rebates which is equal to the excess and 95 per cent. of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure attributable to the balance after deducting that excess.

(3) This paragraph applies where a rebate is payable by an authority in respect of rents which exceed the threshold. which-

(a)a person is required to pay to an authority under section 69(2)(b) of the Housing Act 1985(34) or section 35(2)(b) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987(35), as the case may be, for board and lodging accommodation made available to that person;

(b)a person is required to pay to an authority under section 69(2)(b) of the Housing Act 1985 or section 35(2)(b) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, as the case may be, for accommodation, which the authority holds on a licence agreement from a landlord, made available to that person;

(c)a person is required to pay to an authority for accommodation outside the Housing Revenue Account, which the authority holds on a lease granted for a term not exceeding three years, made available to that person.

(4) Where, in Scotland-

(a)a person is required to pay to an authority for accommodation within the Housing Revenue Account which the authority holds on a lease granted for a term not exceeding three years, made available to that person, and

(b)an authority identified in column (1) of Schedule 7 has granted any rebate in respect of such payments,

the amount of any such rebate shall, subject to article 11(4), be deducted from housing benefit qualifying expenditure, pursuant to article 2(2)(c), and the addition, if any, in respect of such rebates, referred to in article 4(1), shall be calculated in accordance with paragraph (5).

(5) Where paragraph (4) applies-

(a)if the rebate granted is in respect of a person whose weekly eligible rent does not exceed the threshold specified in relation to that authority in column (2) of Schedule 7 ("the relevant threshold"), then the addition shall be 95 per cent. of that rebate;

(b)if the rebate granted is the same as or is less than the amount by which the eligible rent exceeds the relevant threshold, there shall be no addition, and

(c)if the rebate granted is greater than the amount by which the eligible rent exceeds the threshold, there shall be no addition in respect of such part of such rebate which is equal to the excess, but there shall be an addition of 95 per cent. of that part of such rebate attributable to the balance after deducting that excess.

Further additions to housing benefit subsidy

10.-(1) Subject to paragraphs (8) and (9) the additions referred to in article 4(1) are-

(a)where following the loss, destruction or non-receipt, or alleged loss, destruction or non-receipt of original instruments of payment, an authority makes duplicate payments and the original instruments have been or are subsequently encashed, an amount equal to 25 per cent. of the amount of the duplicate payments;

(b)subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), where during the relevant year it is discovered that an overpayment of rebate or allowance has been made and an amount is to be deducted under article 11 in relation to that overpayment, an amount equal to-

(i)in the case of an overpayment caused by departmental error, 95 per cent. of so much of the overpayment as has not been recovered by the authority;

(ii)in the case of a fraudulent overpayment 95 per cent. of the overpayment; or

(iii)except where head (i) or (ii) above applies, 25 per cent. of the overpayment;

(c)where, during the relevant year, it is discovered that an overpayment in respect of which a deduction was made under article 11 of the 1994 Order or 1995 Order (other than a deduction under articles 11(1)(g) of the 1994 Order or 11(1)(f) of the 1995 Order) was a fraudulent overpayment the difference, if any, between 95 per cent. of any such overpayment and the amount of any housing benefit subsidy that has been paid to that authority in respect of that overpayment;

(d)in the case of an authority identified in column (1) of Schedule 8 the sum prescribed in relation to that authority in column (2) of that Schedule.

(2) The amount under paragraph (1)(b) shall not include an amount in relation to-

(a)an overpayment caused by an error of the authority making the payment, or

(b)any technical overpayment.

(3) Where an overpayment is caused by departmental error, but some or all of that overpayment is recovered by the appropriate authority, no addition shall be applicable to the authority in respect of the amount so recovered.

(4) In paragraphs (1)(b)(i) and (3) and in article 11(1)(e) "overpayment caused by departmental error" means an overpayment caused by a mistake made or something done or omitted to be done by an officer of the Department of Social Security, the Department of Employment or the Department for Education and Employment, acting as such, or a decision of an adjudication officer, social security appeal tribunal or Social Security Commissioner appointed in accordance with sections 38(1), 40(1), 51(1) and 52(1) of the Act (appointment of adjudication officers, chairmen and members of social security appeal tribunals and Commissioners) where the claimant, a person acting on his behalf or any other person to whom the payment is made did not cause or materially contribute to that mistake, act or omission.

(5) In paragraph (1)(b)(ii) and (c), in article 11(1)(f) and in paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 "fraudulent overpayment" means an overpayment in respect of a period falling wholly or partly after 31st March 1993 and which-

(a)is so classified by an officer of the authority, designated for that purpose by the authority, after that date; and

(b)occurs as a result of the payment of a rebate or allowance arising in consequence of-

(i)a breach of section 112 of the Act (false representations for obtaining benefit), or

(ii)knowingly failing to report a relevant change of circumstances, contrary to the requirements of regulation 75 of the Housing Benefit Regulations(36) (duty to notify change of circumstances), with intent to obtain or retain such a rebate or allowance for himself or another.

(6) In paragraph (2)(a) "overpayment caused by an error of the authority making the payment" means an overpayment caused by a mistake made or something done or omitted to be done by that authority, where the claimant, a person acting on his behalf or any other person to whom the payment is made did not cause or materially contribute to that mistake, act or omission.

(7) In paragraph (2)(b) "technical overpayment" means that part of an overpayment which occurs as a result of a rebate being granted in advance and-

(a)a change of circumstances reduces or eliminates entitlement to that rebate; or

(b)the authority subsequently identifies a recoverable overpayment which does not arise from a change in circumstances,

but shall not include any part of that overpayment occurring before the benefit week following the week in which the change is disclosed to or identified by the authority.

(8) Except for paragraphs (1)(b)(ii), (1)(c) and (5), this article shall not apply to that part of any rebate or allowance in respect of a case to which paragraph (15) of regulation 72 of the Housing Benefit Regulations (time and manner in which claims are to be made) applies.

(9) Any reference in this article to an overpayment shall not include any rebate or allowances for any period overrun or other period immediately following expiry of the specified period determined under regulation 66 of the Housing Benefit Regulations(37) except for so much of any rebate or allowance to which the claimant would not have been entitled had a claim for that period been duly made and determined.

Deductions to be made in calculating housing benefit subsidy in respect of rebates or allowances

11.-(1) The deductions referred to in article 2(2)(d) are, subject to paragraph (4), to be of the following amounts where-

(a)subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a tenant of an authority, who is in receipt of a rent rebate, while continuing to occupy, or when entering into occupation of, a dwelling as his home, either under his existing tenancy agreement or by entering into a new tenancy agreement-

(i)is during, or was at any time prior to, the relevant year able to choose whether or not to be provided with any services, facilities or rights ("improvements") and chooses or chose to be so provided; or

(ii)is during, or was at any time prior to the relevant year able to choose either to be provided with any improvements or, whether or not in return for an award or grant from the authority, to provide such improvements for himself; or

(iii)would be able during, or would have been able at any time prior to, the relevant year to exercise the choice set out in head (i) or (ii) of this sub-paragraph if he were not or had not at that time been in receipt of a rent rebate,

the amounts attributed during the relevant year to such improvements whether they are or would be expressed as part of the sum fixed as rent, otherwise reserved as rent or expressed as an award or grant from the authority;

(b)during the relevant year a person becomes entitled to a rent-free period which has not been, or does not fall to be, taken into account in calculating the amount of rent rebate to which he is entitled under the Housing Benefit Regulations, the amount of rebate which is or was payable to him in respect of such rent-free period;

(c)during the relevant year an award in the form of a payment of money or monies worth, a credit to the person's rent account or in some other form is made by an authority to one of its tenants in receipt of rent rebate, whether or not the person is immediately entitled to the award, the amount or value of the award, but no such deduction shall be made in respect of an award-

(i)made to a tenant for a reason unrelated to the fact that he is a tenant;

(ii)made under a statutory obligation;

(iii)made under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972(38) or section 83 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973(39) (power of local authorities to incur expenditure for certain purposes not otherwise authorised);

(iv)except where sub-paragraph (a)(ii) above applies, made as reasonable compensation for reasonable repairs or redecoration the tenant has, or has caused to be, carried out whether for payment or not and which the authority would otherwise have carried out or have been required to carry out; or

(v)of a reasonable amount made as compensation for loss, damage or inconvenience of a kind which occurs only exceptionally and which was suffered by the tenant by virtue of his occupation of his home;

(d)during the relevant year the weekly amount of rebate or allowance is increased pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of regulation 61 of the Housing Benefit Regulations(40), the amount of such increase;

(e)during the relevant year an amount is recovered in relation to an overpayment of a rebate or allowance which was caused by departmental error, within the meaning of article 10(4), the amount so recovered where the overpayment had occurred and been discovered in a year earlier than the relevant year;

(f)during the relevant year a fraudulent overpayment, within the meaning of article 10(5), is identified, the amount of the overpayment, but only to the extent that the amount of overpayment or any part of it has not been deducted from qualifying expenditure under article 4 of the 1994 Order or the 1995 Order, as the case may be;

(g)subject to sub-paragraphs (e) and (f) of this paragraph during the relevant year it is discovered that an overpayment of rebate or allowance has been made, the amount of such overpayment, but only to the extent that-

(i)the amount of such overpayment or any part of it has not been deducted from qualifying expenditure under article 3 of the Housing Benefit (Subsidy) Order 1989(41) or of the Housing Benefit (Subsidy) Order 1990(42) or under article 4 of respectively the 1991 Order, the 1992 Order, the 1993 Order, the 1994 Order or the 1995 Order, as the case may be; and

(ii)the amount of the overpayment or any part of it does not include an amount to which paragraph (15) of regulation 72 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or paragraph (7) of article 2 of the Community Charge Benefits (Transitional) Order 1989(43), or as the case may be, paragraph (18) of regulation 59 of the Housing Benefit (Community Charge Rebates) (Scotland) Regulations 1988(44) (time and manner in which claims are to be made) applied;

(h)during the relevant year any instrument of payment issued by an authority during that year is returned to that authority without being presented for payment or is found by that authority to have passed its date of validity without being presented for payment, the amount of any such instrument.

(2) No deduction shall be made under sub-paragraph (1)(a) above where the eligible rent for a tenant has been increased in a case to which that sub-paragraph would apply but-

(a)any such services, facilities or rights ("improvements")-

(i)relate solely to the physical needs of the property in question or the needs of that tenant; and

(ii)the increased rent in relation to such improvements is reasonable;

(b)the tenant was eligible whether or not he was a beneficiary; and

(c)the authority has not let properties, to which they intend to make improvements, either in the relevant year or in the two years preceding that year, solely or largely to beneficiaries.

(3) In paragraph (2) "beneficiary" has the meaning it is given for the purposes of article 6 by paragraph (7) of that article.

(4) Where in relation to any amount of a rebate or allowance a deduction falls to be made under two or more of article 8(7), article 9(4), paragraph 7 of Schedule 6 or the sub-paragraphs of paragraph (1), as the case may be, only the higher or highest, or, where the amounts are equal, only one amount, shall be deducted.

Deduction from housing benefit subsidy

12. Where during the relevant year it is found by an authority that any instrument of payment issued by it during the period of seven years ending on 31st March 1995 has been returned to that authority without having been presented for payment or has passed its date of validity without having been presented for payment, the deduction referred to in article 4(1) shall be the amount of any housing benefit subsidy that has been paid to that authority in respect of any such instrument.

Additions to and deductions from housing benefit subsidy in respect of benefit savings

13.-(1) Where this article applies, the addition to or, as the case may be, deduction from housing benefit subsidy referred to in article 4(1) shall be calculated in accordance with Part II of Schedule 9.

(2) This article applies in the case of an authority to which paragraph 2 of Schedule 9 applies and in such a case the addition shall be calculated in accordance with that paragraph.

(3) This article also applies in the case of an authority to which paragraph 4 of Schedule 9 applies and in such a case the deduction shall be calculated in accordance with that paragraph.

PART IIICOUNCIL TAX BENEFIT SUBSIDY

Interpretation of Part III

14.-(1) In this Part of this Order, unless the context otherwise requires-

"council tax benefit subsidy" means subsidy under section 140(45) of the Act;

"the Community Charge Benefits Regulations" means the Community Charge Benefits (General) Regulations 1989(46);

"the Council Tax Benefit Regulations" means the Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992(47);

and other expressions used in this Order and in the Community Charge Benefits Regulations or the Council Tax Benefit Regulations, as the case may be, shall have the same meanings in this Order as in those Regulations.

(2) In this part of this Order "council tax benefit qualifying expenditure" means the total of council tax benefit and community charge benefits granted by the appropriate authority during the relevant year, less-

(a)the deductions specified in article 19; and

(b)where, under subsection (6) of section 139 of the Act(48) (arrangements for council tax benefit), the appropriate authority has modified any part of the scheme administered by it, any amount by which the total of the council tax and community charge benefits which it granted under the scheme during the relevant year exceeds the total of those which it would have granted if the scheme had not been so modified.

Amount of council tax benefit subsidy

15. The amount of an appropriate authority's council tax benefit subsidy for the relevant year-

(a)for the purposes of section 140(2)(49) of the Act (subsidy in respect of council tax benefit) shall be the amount or total of the amounts calculated in accordance with article 16;

(b)for the purposes of section 140(5)(50) of the Act (subsidy in respect of the costs of administering council tax benefit) may include an additional sum in respect of the costs of administering council tax benefit calculated in accordance with Schedules 1 and 2.

Council tax benefit

16.-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), for the purposes of section 140(2) of the Act, an appropriate authority's council tax benefit subsidy for the relevant year shall be-

(a)in the case of an appropriate authority to which article 17 does not apply, 95 per cent. of its council tax benefit qualifying expenditure;

(b)in the case of an appropriate authority to which that article is relevant an amount equal to the aggregate of-

(i)95 per cent. of so much of its council tax benefit qualifying expenditure as remains after deducting the amount of expenditure attributable to the council tax benefit to which that article applies; plus

(ii)the appropriate amount calculated in respect of the council tax benefit under that article,

plus, in each case, the additions, where applicable, under articles 18 and 21(2), less, in each case, the deductions, where applicable, under articles 20 and 21(3).

(2) Where, during the relevant year there has been a period overrun in respect of council tax benefit, that authority's council tax benefit subsidy for that year shall be adjusted by deducting from the subsidy otherwise due under this article an amount equal to the percentage, as calculated in accordance with paragraph 4 of Schedule 4, of the council tax benefit qualifying expenditure for that authority.

Backdated benefit

17.-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), where-

(a)during the relevant year an appropriate authority has-

(i)under paragraph (18) of regulation 60 of the Community Charge Benefits Regulations (time and manner in which claims are to be made), treated any claim for a community charge benefit as made on a day earlier than that on which it is made; or

(ii)under paragraph (16) of regulation 62 of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations (time and manner in which claims are to be made), treated any claim for council tax benefit as made on a day earlier than that on which it was made; and

(b)any part of that appropriate authority's council tax benefit qualifying expenditure is attributable to such earlier period;

for the purposes of article 16(1)(b)(ii), the appropriate amount for the relevant year in respect of such part shall be 50 per cent. of the council tax benefit qualifying expenditure so attributable.

(2) This article shall not apply in a case to which article 18(1)(b)(ii) applies.

Additions to council tax benefit subsidy

18.-(1) Subject to paragraphs (8) and (9), the additions referred to in article 16 are-

(a)where, following the loss, destruction or non-receipt, or alleged loss, destruction or non-receipt of original instruments of payment, an appropriate authority makes duplicate payments and the original instruments have been or are subsequently encashed, an amount equal to 25 per cent. of the amount of the duplicate payments;

(b)subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), where it is discovered by an appropriate authority, during the relevant year, that excess benefits have been allowed and an amount is to be deducted under article 20 in relation to those excess benefits, an amount equal to-

(i)where the excess benefits are allowed in consequence of a departmental error, 95 per cent. of that part of the excess benefits which have not been recovered by the appropriate authority;

(ii)where fraudulent excess benefits are allowed 95 per cent. of the excess benefits; or

(iii)except where head (i) or (ii) above applies, 25 per cent. of the excess benefits.

(c)where, during the relevant year, it is discovered that excess benefit in respect of which a deduction was made under article 19 of the 1994 Order or the 1995 Order, as the case may be, (other than a deduction under sub-paragraph (1)(c) of that article) was fraudulent excess benefit, the difference, if any, between 95 per cent. of any such excess benefit and the amount of any council tax benefit subsidy that has been paid to that authority in respect of that excess benefit.

(2) The amount under paragraph (1)(b) shall not include an amount in relation to-

(a)any excess benefit allowed in consequence of an error of the appropriate authority making the payment;

(b)any technical excess benefit, or

(c)any excess benefit allowed and discovered in the relevant year, as a result of a reduction in the amount of council tax a person is liable to pay.

(3) Where excess benefits are allowed in consequence of departmental error, but some or all of that excess benefit is recovered by the appropriate authority, no addition shall be applicable to that authority in respect of the amount so recovered.

(4) In paragraph (2)(a) "excess benefit allowed in consequence of an error of the appropriate authority making the payment" means excess benefits in consequence of a mistake made or something done or omitted to be done by the appropriate authority where the claimant, a person acting on his behalf or any other person to whom the payment is made, did not cause or materially contribute to that mistake, act or omission.

(5) In paragraph (1)(b)(i), in paragraph (3) and in article 19(1)(b) "excess benefits allowed in consequence of departmental error" means excess benefits in consequence of a mistake made or something done or omitted to be done by an officer of the Department of Social Security, the Department of Employment or the Department for Education and Employment, acting as such, or a decision of an adjudication officer, social security appeal tribunal or Social Security Commissioner appointed in accordance with sections 38(1), 40(1), 51(1) and 52(1) of the Act (appointment of adjudication officers, chairmen and members of social security appeal tribunals and Commissioners) where the claimant, a person acting on his behalf or any other person to whom the payment is made did not cause or materially contribute to that mistake, act or omission.

(6) In paragraph (2)(b) "technical excess benefit" means that part of excess benefits which occurs as a result of benefits being allowed in advance and-

(a)a change of circumstances reduces or eliminates entitlement to those benefits; or

(b)the appropriate authority subsequently identifies recoverable excess benefits which arise otherwise than from a change in circumstances,

but shall not include any part of those excess benefits occurring before the benefit week next following the week in which the change is disclosed to the appropriate authority.

(7) In paragraph (1)(b)(ii) and (c), in article 19(1)(c) and in paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 "fraudulent excess benefit" means excess benefit in respect of a period falling wholly or partly after 31st March 1993 and which-

(a)is so classified by an officer of the appropriate authority, designated for that purpose by the authority, after that date; and

(b)occurs as a result of the award or continuation of benefit arising in consequence of-

(i)a breach of section 112 of the Act (false representations for obtaining benefit); or

(ii)knowingly failing to report a relevant change of circumstances, contrary to the requirements of regulations 63 of the Community Charge Benefits Regulations or, as the case may be, of regulation 65 of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations (duty to notify change of circumstances), with intent to obtain or retain such benefit.

(8) Except for paragraphs (1)(b)(ii), (1)(c) and (7), this article shall not apply to an award of benefit to which paragraph (18) of regulation 60 of the Community Charge Benefits Regulations or paragraph (16) of regulation 62 of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations (time and manner in which claims are to be made), as the case may be, applies.

(9) Any reference in this article to excess benefits shall not include any council tax benefit for any period overrun or any period immediately following expiry of the specified period determined under regulation 57 of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations (benefit period) except for so much of any such benefit to which the claimant would not have been entitled had a claim for that period been duly made and determined.

Deductions to be made in calculating subsidy in respect of council tax benefit

19.-(1) The deductions referred to in article 14(2) are, subject to paragraph (2) of the following amounts, namely where-

(a)an appropriate authority has by virtue of regulation 58 of the Community Charge Benefits Regulations(51), regulation 51(5) or 54(4) of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations (increases of weekly amounts for exceptional circumstances)(52) increased benefit in exceptional circumstances, the amount attributable to that increase;

(b)during the relevant year an amount is recovered in relation to excess community charge benefit or excess council tax benefit, as the case may be, which was allowed in consequence of departmental error, within the meaning of article 18(5), and where the excess benefit had occurred and been discovered in one or more of the years ending 31st March 1991, 31st March 1992, 31st March 1993, 31st March 1994 or 31st March 1995, as the case may be, the amount so recovered;

(c)during the relevant year fraudulent excess benefit, within the meaning of article 18(7), is identified, the amount so identified, but only to the extent that the amount of the excess benefits or any part of it has not been deducted from council tax benefit qualifying expenditure under article 19 of the 1994 Order or the 1995 Order, as the case may be;

(d)subject to sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of this paragraph, during the relevant year it is discovered by an appropriate authority that excess benefits have been allowed, the amount of the excess benefits, but only to the extent that-

(i)the amount of the excess benefits or any part of it has not been deducted from community charge benefit qualifying expenditure under article 15 of the 1991 Order or article 16 of the 1992 Order or the 1993 Order, or from council tax benefit qualifying expenditure under article 19 of the 1994 Order or the 1995 Order, as the case may be; and

(ii)the amount of the excess benefits or any part of it does not include an amount payable pursuant to either paragraph (18) of regulation 60 of the Community Charge Benefits Regulations or paragraph (16) of regulation 62 of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations (time and manner in which claims are to be made);

(e)during the relevant year any instrument of payment which was issued by an appropriate authority during that year is returned to that authority without being presented for payment or is found by that authority to have passed its date of validity without being presented for payment, the amount of any such instrument.

(2) Where in relation to any amount of benefit a deduction falls to be made under two or more sub-paragraphs of paragraph (1) only the higher or highest or, where the amounts are equal, only one amount shall be deducted.

Deduction from council tax benefit subsidy

20. Where, during the relevant year, it is found by an appropriate authority that any instrument of payment issued by it during the period of five years ending on 31st March 1995 has been returned to that authority without having been presented for payment or has passed its date of validity without having been presented for payment, the deduction referred to in article 16(1) shall be the amount of any council tax benefit subsidy that has been paid to that authority in respect of any such instrument.

Additions to and deductions from council tax benefit subsidy in respect of benefit savings

21.-(1) Where this article applies, the addition to or, as the case may be, deduction from council tax benefit subsidy referred to in article 16(1) shall be calculated in accordance with Part III of Schedule 9.

(2) This article applies in the case of an appropriate authority to which paragraph 5 of Schedule 9 applies and in such a case the addition shall be calculated in accordance with that paragraph.

(3) This article also applies in the case of an appropriate authority to which paragraph 7 of Schedule 9 applies and in such a case the deduction shall be calculated in accordance with that paragraph.

Articles 3 and 15

SCHEDULE 1CALCULATION OF HOUSING BENEFIT SUBSIDY IN RESPECT OF ADMINISTRATION COSTS

PART IGENERAL INTERPRETATION

1.-(1) The additional sum which may be paid to an authority under section 135(5) of the Act shall be the aggregate of the housing benefit amount calculated in accordance with Part II, the supplementary amount and the additional supplementary amount calculated in accordance with Part III, except that, in the case of authorities in Scotland who administer only council tax benefit, the housing benefit amount, the supplementary amount and the additional supplementary amount shall be nil.

(2) In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires, "housing benefit amount" means the housing benefit applicable amount calculated in accordance with Part II and "total of supplementary amounts" means the total of-

(a)the supplementary amount calculated in accordance with paragraph 3;

(b)the additional supplementary amount calculated in accordance with paragraph 4; and

(c)the supplementary amount of council tax benefit administration subsidy calculated in accordance with paragraph 7 of Schedule 2.

PART IIAPPLICABLE AMOUNT

Housing benefit applicable amount

2. For the purposes of Part I, the housing benefit applicable amount shall be calculated by applying the following formula-

PART IIISUPPLEMENTARY AMOUNT

Supplementary amount

3. For the purposes of Part I, except in the case of development corporations, the Development Board for Rural Wales or the Scottish Homes, the supplementary amount shall be calculated by applying the following formula-

Additional supplementary amount

4. For the purposes of Part I, the applying the following formula-

Minimum amount

5.-(1) In the case of a relevant authority, if the total of supplementary amounts is less than £12,500, then the supplementary amount for that authority shall be increased to such a sum that the total of supplementary amounts equals £12,500.

(2) For the purposes of paragraphs 5 to 8 a "relevant authority" is an authority who administers both rent allowances and council tax benefit.

6. Where the total of supplementary amounts exceeds-

(a)in the case of development corporations, the Development Board for Rural Wales or the Scottish Homes £51,075;

(b)in the case of authorities other than those specified in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph-

(i)in England, £10,222,778;

(ii)in Wales, £548,569;

(iii)in Scotland, £1,243,578,

the total of supplementary amounts for an authority to which paragraph 5 does not apply shall be further calculated, subject to paragraph 7, by applying the following formula-

7. Where the total of supplementary amounts for a relevant authority, as further calculated in accordance with paragraph 6, is less than 512,500 for that authority it shall be £12,500.

8. Until such time as the aggregate of the authorities' total of supplementary amounts calculated under paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 equals the aggregate of the amounts specified in sub-paragraphs (a), (b)(i), (b)(ii) and (b)(iii) of paragraph 6, the calculations set out in paragraphs 6 and 7 shall, subject to the modifications set out below, continue to apply to calculate the total of supplementary amounts for those authorities to whom neither paragraph 5 nor 7 has applied, and for that purpose-

(a)J shall apply as if the total of supplementary amounts were the amount calculated under paragraph 6, or, if by virtue of this paragraph there has been more than one calculation, the last amount calculated under that paragraph in respect of the appropriate authority;

(b)K shall apply as if the amount to be deducted to determine the balance of the total amount available were the aggregate of the total of supplementary amounts for relevant authorities to whom, in the calculation under paragraphs 6 and 7, or, if there has been more than one such calculation under those paragraphs, the last such calculation, paragraph 7 applied; and

(c)L shall apply as if the total of supplementary amounts were the total of all supplementary amounts calculated under paragraph 6 or, if by virtue of this paragraph there has been more than one calculation, the last such calculation in respect of all authorities to whom paragraph 7 did not apply on that calculation.

Articles 3 and 15

SCHEDULE 2CALCULATION OF COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT SUBSIDY IN RESPECT OF ADMINISTRATION COSTS

PART IGENERAL INTERPRETATION

1.-(1) The additional sum which may be paid to an appropriate authority under section 140(5) of the Act(53) shall be the aggregate of the applicable amount calculated in accordance with Part II and the supplementary amount calculated in accordance with Part III.

(2) In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires "housing benefit amount" has the same meaning as in Schedule 1.

PART IIAPPLICABLE AMOUNT

Council tax benefit applicable amount

2.-(1) Subject to paragraphs 3 to 6 and for the purposes of Part I, the council tax benefit applicable amount shall be calculated by applying the following formula-

Calculation of applicable amount

3.-(1) Subject to paragraphs 4 to 6, where in the case of an appropriate authority in England or Wales-

(a)α (being the housing benefit amount and the applicable amount calculated under this Part in respect of that appropriate authority) exceeds 13 (being 120 per cent. of the relevant amount), the applicable amount for that appropriate authority for the relevant year shall be the sum calculated under paragraph 2 less the excess; or

(b)α (being the total of the housing benefit amount and the applicable amount calculated under this Part in respect of that appropriate authority) is less than Υ(being 95 per cent. of the relevant amount) the applicable amount for that appropriate authority shall be the sum calculated under paragraph 2 plus an amount equal to the difference between α and Υ.

(2) The relevant amount for the purposes of this paragraph and paragraph 5 is the aggregate of the housing benefit amounts and council tax benefit amounts payable to that appropriate authority for the financial year ending 31st March 1995 calculated in accordance with Schedules 1 and 2 to the 1995 Order (calculation of subsidy in respect of administration costs).

4. Where the total of the housing benefit amount and the additional sums calculated under Part I and paragraph 3, less any amount paid by reason of Part III, is other than, for appropriate authorities-

(a)in England, £131,240,168;

(b)in Wales, g£856,935,

the total of the applicable amount under this Part for an appropriate authority to which paragraph 3 does not apply shall be calculated, subject to paragraphs 5 and 6, by applying the following formula-

5. Where, in the case of an appropriate authority in England or in Wales, as the case may be-

(a)Σ (being the total of the housing benefit amount and the amount calculated under paragraph 4) exceeds β (being 120 per cent. of the relevant amount) the applicable amount calculated under this Part for that appropriate authority shall be the amount as calculated under paragraph 4 less the excess;

(b)Σ (being the total of the housing benefit amount and the amount calculated under paragraph 4) is less than Υ (being 95 per cent. of the relevant amount) the applicable amount calculated under this Part for that appropriate authority shall be the amount as calculated under paragraph 4 plus an amount equal to the difference between Σ and Υ.

6. Until the applicable amount under this Part as calculated under paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 equals the amount specified in paragraph 2 as subsidy in respect of the cost of administering council tax benefit for appropriate authorities in England or in Wales, as the case may be, the formula set out in paragraph 4 and paragraph 5 shall, subject to the modifications specified below, continue to apply to calculate the applicable amount under this Part for those appropriate authorities to whom neither paragraph 3 nor paragraph 5 has applied; and for that purpose-

(a)D shall apply as if the total of the applicable amount under this Part were the amount calculated under paragraph 4, or, if by virtue of this paragraph there has been more than one calculation, the last amount calculated under that paragraph in respect of the appropriate authority;

(b)E shall apply as if the total of the applicable amount under this Part were the total calculated under paragraph 4, or, if by virtue of this paragraph there has been more than one calculation, the last amount calculated under that paragraph in respect of all appropriate authorities to whom paragraph 5 did not apply in that calculation; and

(c)F shall apply as if the amount to be deducted to determine the balance of the total amount available were the housing benefit amount and the applicable amount as calculated under this Part for appropriate authorities to whom, in the calculation under paragraphs 4 and 5, or, if there has been more than one calculation under those paragraphs, the last such calculation, paragraph 5 applied.

PART IIISUPPLEMENTARY AMOUNT

Supplementary amount

7. For the purposes of Part I, the council tax benefit supplementary calculated by applying the following formula-

Article 4(2)

SCHEDULE 3MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF HOUSING BENEFIT SUBSIDY PAYABLE IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN AUTHORITIES IN SCOTLAND

Articles 4(3) and 16(2)

SCHEDULE 4CALCULATION OF DEDUCTIONS FROM HOUSING BENEFIT SUBSIDY AND COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT SUBSIDY IN RESPECT OF PERIOD OVERRUNS

PART IGENERAL INTERPRETATION

1. In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires-

• "period overrun" means any period, in the relevant year-

  (i)

  which follows a benefit period in that year or the previous year; and

  (ii)

  in respect of which the authority makes a payment to a claimant after the expiration of the benefit period without making a further award under regulation 66 of the Housing Benefit Regulations(54), or regulation 57 of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations, as the case may be;

• "benefit period" has the same meaning as in regulation 66 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or regulation 57 of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations, as the case may be, save that where an authority makes an award under one of those regulations for a specified period of less than 60 benefit weeks, it means 60 benefit weeks commencing with the benefit week when that specified period began; and

• "overrun week" means any week forming part of a period overrun.

PART IIDEDUCTIONS

2. The percentage referred to in article 4(3)(a) for an authority shall be that percentage in column (2) of the Table in paragraph 5, opposite the percentage calculated for that authority in column (1) of that Table.

3. The percentage referred to in article 4(3)(b) for an authority shall be that percentage in column (2) of the Table in paragraph 5, opposite the percentage calculated for that authority in column (1) of that Table.

4. The percentage referred to in article 16(2) for an appropriate authority shall be that percentage in column (2) of the Table in paragraph 5, opposite the percentage calculated for that authority in column (1) of that Table.

PART IIICALCULATIONS AND TABLE

5.-(1) In the heading to column (1) in the Table in sub-paragraph (2) below, "total benefit weeks" means the total of all benefit weeks and overrun weeks for all claimants in the appropriate category as described in paragraph 2, 3 or 4, as the case may be, granted benefit by the authority in the relevant year.

(2) The Table referred to in this Schedule is as follows-

Article 7

SCHEDULE 5THRESHOLD ABOVE WHICH REDUCED HOUSING BENEFIT SUBSIDY IS PAYABLE ON RENT ALLOWANCES

Articles 2(2) and 8

SCHEDULE 6RENT OFFICERS' DETERMINATIONS

Calculation of the appropriate amount

1. Subject to paragraph 7, the appropriate amount, in a case to which paragraph (2), (3), (4) or (10) of article 8 applies, in respect of that part of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure which is attributable to allowances granted for the period beginning on the relevant date and ending on the termination date, shall be calculated in accordance with paragraph 2, 3,4 or 6 as appropriate.

Rent officers' determination

2. Where the rent officer determines a property-specific rent, does not make a determination under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the Rent Officers Order and the amount of eligible rent does not exceed the property-specific rent less ineligible amounts, the appropriate amount in respect of the period beginning with the relevant date and ending with the termination date shall be 95 per cent. of that part of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure attributable to the eligible rent.

3. Where the rent officer determines a property-specific rent, does not make a determination under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the Rent Officers Order and the amount of eligible rent exceeds the property-specific rent less ineligible amounts, in respect of the period beginning with the relevant date and ending with the termination date-

(a)where the allowance granted is the same as or is less than the excess-

(i)except in a case to which paragraph 5 applies, paragraph 7 shall apply to any such allowance;

(ii)where paragraph 5 applies, the appropriate amount shall be 60 per cent. of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure attributable to such allowance;

(b)where the allowance granted is greater than the excess the appropriate amount shall be-

(i)except where paragraph 5 applies, nil per cent. of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure which is equal to the excess;

(ii)where paragraph 5 applies, 60 per cent. of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure which is equal to the excess,

and in either case 95 per cent. of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure which remains after deducting the excess.

Rent officers' property-specific and size-related rents

4.-(1) Where the rent officer makes a determination that the dwelling exceeds the size criteria for its occupiers and he determines both a property-specific rent for that dwelling and a size-related rent, the appropriate amount in respect of the period beginning on the relevant date and ending on the termination date shall be the appropriate amounts determined in accordance with the relevant sub-paragraphs of this paragraph.

(2) Where the eligible rent does not exceed the relevant rent, less ineligible amounts, the appropriate amount shall be 95 per cent. of that part of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure attributable to the eligible rent.

(3) For the period of 13 weeks beginning on the relevant date or, if shorter, for the period beginning on that date and ending on the termination date, if the amount of the eligible rent does not exceed the property-specific rent less ineligible amounts, the appropriate amount shall be 95 per cent. of that part of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure attributable to the eligible rent.

(4) For the period of 13 weeks beginning on the relevant date or, if shorter, for the period beginning on that date and ending on the termination date, if the amount of the eligible rent exceeds the property-specific rent less ineligible amounts-

(a)where the allowance is the same as or is less than the excess-

(i)except in a case to which paragraph 5 applies, paragraph 7 shall apply to any such allowance;

(ii)where paragraph 5 applies, the appropriate amount shall be 60 per cent. of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure attributable to such allowance;

(b)where the allowance granted is greater than the excess the appropriate amount shall be-

(i)except where paragraph 5 applies, nil per cent. of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure which is equal to the excess;

(ii)where paragraph 5 applies, 60 per cent. of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure which is equal to the excess,

and in either case 95 per cent. of the housing benefit qualifying expenditure which remains after deducting the excess.

Restriction on unreasonable rents or on rent increases

5. This paragraph applies where an authority has been unable to treat a person's eligible rent as reduced by reason of regulation 11(3), (3A)(55), (4) or 12(2)(56) of the Housing Benefit Regulations (restrictions on unreasonable rents or on rent increases) as in force on 1st January 1996(57).

Payments on account of rent allowance

6.-(1) This paragraph applies in a case, falling on or after 2nd January 1996, where:

(a)an authority makes a payment on account pursuant to regulation 91 of the Housing Benefit Regulations(58); and

(b)on the subsequent determination by that authority the amount of rent allowance payable is less than the amount of the payment on account,

to the amount by which the payment on account exceeded the amount payable on the determination.

(2) In a case where this paragraph applies, the appropriate amount shall be 95 per cent. of so much of any amount which:

(a)is not in excess of the appropriate indicative rent level in relation to the dwelling, in respect of which the claim for rent allowance, pursuant to which the payment on account was paid, was made, and;

(b)has not been recovered pursuant to either regulation 91(3) or 99 (recoverable overpayments) of the Housing Benefit Regulations.

(3) In any case to which this paragraph applies and any such payments on account were in excess of the appropriate indicative rent level, paragraph 7 shall apply to such excess.

Deductions in respect of allowances

7. Subject to article 11(4) any allowance, payment on account or part thereof, as the case may be, to which this paragraph applies shall be deducted from housing benefit qualifying expenditure, pursuant to article 2(2)(b).

Relevant date

8. - For the purposes of this Schedule-

(a)in a case where a claim for rent allowance is made on or after 1st April 1995, the relevant date is the date on which entitlement to benefit commences;

(b)in a case where-

(i)on 1st April 1995 there is current on that date a claim for an allowance in relation to the dwelling; and

(ii)there is also current on that date a rent officer's determination in relation to the dwelling,

the relevant date is 1st April 1995; and for the purposes of head (ii) above, a rent officer's determination includes a determination, interim determination, further determination or re-determination made under the Rent Officers Order, save that where a determination made under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the Rent Officers Order 1990 had not taken effect by 31st March 1995, the relevant date will be 13 weeks after the relevant date determined under the 1995 Order;

(c)in a case where-

(i)during the relevant year there has been a change relating to a rent allowance within the meaning of regulation 12A(8) of the Housing Benefit Regulations; and

(ii)by virtue of regulation 12A of the Housing Benefit Regulations (requirement to refer to rent officer)(59) an application for a determination in respect of that dwelling is required,

the relevant date is the date on which the relevant change of circumstances takes effect for the purposes of regulation 68 of the Housing Benefit Regulations (date on which change of circumstances is to take effect)(60) or, if the relevant change of circumstances does not affect entitlement to an allowance, the Monday following the date on which the relevant change occurred;

(d)in a case where a rent officer makes both an interim determination and a further determination, the relevant date is-

(i)if the relevant rent determined under the further determination is higher than or equal to the amount determined under the interim determination, the date determined under the foregoing sub-paragraphs of this paragraph as appropriate;

(ii)if the relevant rent determined under the further determination is lower than the amount determined under the interim determination, the Monday following the date on which the further determination is made by the rent officer; in a case, falling on or after 2nd January 1996, where, prior to any rent officer

(e)determination being notified to the authority, the authority determines a rent allowance on a claim in respect of a dwelling, the relevant date is-

(i)if the relevant rent less ineligible amounts determined under the determination eventually notified by the rent officer is higher than or equal to the eligible rent determined by the authority in relation to that dwelling, the date determined under the foregoing sub-paragraphs of this paragraph as appropriate;

(ii)if the relevant rent less ineligible amounts is lower than the eligible rent determined by the authority but that eligible rent is equal to or more than the appropriate indicative rent level for that dwelling, the Monday following the date on which the determination is made by the rent officer;

(iii)if the relevant rent less ineligible amounts is lower than the eligible rent determined by the authority in relation to that dwelling, the Monday following the date on which the determination is made by the rent officer and in so far as the eligible rent determined by the authority in relation to that dwelling was in excess of the appropriate indicative rent level for that dwelling paragraph 7 shall apply to that excess;

(f)in a case where the rent officer has made a re-determination under paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Rent Officers Order, the relevant date is-

(i)if the relevant rent determination under the re-determination is higher than or equal to the amount determined under the original determination, the date determined under the foregoing sub-paragraphs of this paragraph as appropriate;

(ii)if the relevant rent determination under the re-determination is lower than the amount determined under the original determination, the Monday following the date on which the re-determination is made by the rent officer.

Termination date

9. For the purposes of this Schedule "termination date" means-

(a)31st March 1996; or

(b)where the rent officer's determination replaces a determination made in relation to the same dwelling, the relevant date of the new determination by the rent officer in relation to the same dwelling as defined by paragraph 8; or

(e)the date on which the allowance ceases to be paid in respect of the tenancy,

whichever is earlier.

Apportionment

10. For the purposes of this Schedule where more than one person is liable to make payments in respect of a dwelling the relevant rent shall be apportioned on the same basis as such payments are apportioned under regulation 10(5) of the Housing Benefit Regulations (rent).

Reckonable rent cases

11. In a case where article 8(9) applies-

(a)where the authority, in determining the reckonable rent has lessened that rent in accordance with regulation 10(3) of and Schedule 1 to the Housing Benefit Regulations (ineligible charges) by a sum less than the ineligible amounts, the appropriate amount shall be 95 per cent. of the maximum rent as calculated by reference to the value of those ineligible amounts; and

(b)in a case where sub-paragraph (a) above does not apply, shall be 95 per cent. of the eligible rent as determined by the authority.

12. In a case where article 8(11) applies, the appropriate amount shall be, for the period of 13 weeks prescribed in regulation 11(9) of the Housing Benefit Regulations, 95 per cent. of the eligible rent less ineligible amounts.

Interpretation

13. In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires-

"appropriate indicative rent level" means the indicative rent level for the category of dwelling into which the dwelling in question falls, as described in Schedule 1 to the Rent Officers Order less, in the case of a dwelling falling within heads (a) or (b) of paragraph 9(3) of that Schedule, any amount ineligible to be met under paragraph 1A or Part II of Schedule 1 to the Housing Benefit Regulations (meal and fuel charges);

"ineligible amounts" means, except as provided in the definition of "property-specific rent less ineligible amounts" below,-

"property-specific rent", "relevant rent" and "size-related rent" have, except as provided in definition of "property-specific rent less ineligible amounts" below, the same meanings as are ascribed to them in paragraph 10 (interpretation) of Schedule 6 to the 1995 Order;

"property-specific rent less ineligible amounts" has the meaning otherwise ascribed to those terms in this paragraph except in a case where the property-specific rent is an exceptionally high rent and is notified to the authority-

when it means that exceptionally high rent less ineligible amounts other than ineligible payments falling within either paragraph (a) or (b) above;

and other expressions used in this Schedule and in the Rent Officers Order have the same meaning in this Schedule as they have in that Order.

Article 9

SCHEDULE 7AMOUNTS BY REFERENCE TO WHICH APPROPRIATE MAXIMUM AMOUNT IS DETERMINED

Article 10(1)(d)

SCHEDULE 8ADDITIONAL SUBSIDY IN RESPECT OF RENT ALLOWANCE CASES

Articles 13 and 21

SCHEDULE 9BENEFIT SAVINGS

PART IGENERAL INTERPRETATION

1.-(1) The additions to or deductions from, as the case may be, housing benefit subsidy or council tax benefit subsidy referred to in articles 13 and 21 shall be calculated in accordance with this Schedule.

(2) In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires-

• A is equal to (B + C) × 32;

• B is the total sum of housing benefit savings made by a relevant authority;

• C is the total sum of housing benefit related savings made by a relevant authority;

• D is equal to (E + F) × 32;

• E is the total sum of council tax benefit savings made by a relevant authority;

• F is the total sum of council tax benefit related savings made by a relevant authority;

• G, in the case of a relevant authority, is the figure prescribed in column (2) of the Table in Part IV for that authority;

• H is 0.75 of the value of G;

• I is 0.5 of the value of G;

• J is 0.25 of the value of G;

• "authorised person" means

  (i)

  an officer of a relevant authority; or

  (ii)

  an employee of a relevant authority's contractor,

  where that individual has been designated by that authority for the investigation of fraud;

• "council tax benefit savings" means any amount which would have been allowed by way of council tax benefit to a claimant during a benefit week, but for the investigation and intervention of one or more authorised persons, and which would, had that amount been allowed as council tax benefit, have been fraudulent excess benefit, within the meaning of article 18(7), or in a case where only a proportion of that non-allowance was due to that investigation and intervention the amount shall be that proportion;

• "council tax benefit related savings" means-

  (i)

  where council tax benefit savings have been established and that investigation has also led to a determination by an adjudication officer that no relevant benefit, or less relevant benefit is payable any amount of relevant benefit that would, but for that investigation and consequent determination, have been paid to that claimant in a payment week; and

  (ii)

  in a case where the council tax benefit savings were less than the total council tax benefit not allowed, the council tax benefit related savings shall be an amount determined by applying to the total of relevant benefit not paid a percentage equal to the percentage which those council tax benefit savings bear to the total council tax benefit not allowed,

  except that in neither case shall it include any amount which has been included in the housing benefit related savings for that authority;

• "housing benefit savings" means any amount which would have been paid by way of housing benefit to a claimant during a benefit week, but for the investigation and intervention of one or more authorised persons, and which would, had that amount been paid as housing benefit, have been a fraudulent overpayment, within the meaning of article 10(5), or, in a case where only a proportion of that non-payment was due to that investigation and intervention, the amount shall be that proportion;

• "housing benefit related savings" means-

  (i)

  where housing benefit savings have been established and that investigation has also led to a determination by an adjudication officer that no relevant benefit or less relevant benefit is payable, any amount of relevant benefit that would, but

  (ii)

  for that investigation and consequent determination, have been paid to that claimant in a payment week; and in a case where the housing benefit savings were less than the total housing benefit not paid, the housing benefit related savings shall be an amount determined by applying to the total of relevant benefit not paid a percentage equal to the percentage which those housing benefit savings bear to the total housing benefit not paid;

• "a payment week" means-

  (i)

  in the case of income support, a benefit week within the meaning prescribed therefore in regulation 2(1) of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987(61);

  (ii)

  in the case of invalidity benefit, severe disablement allowance or sickness benefit, the week in advance in which such benefit is to be paid pursuant to regulation 24(1) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987(62) or, in a case where that regulation does not apply, would be so paid if that regulation did apply;

  (iii)

  in the case of retirement pension, the week in arrears in which such benefit is to be paid pursuant to regulation 22(1) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987(63) or, in a case where that regulation does not apply, would be so paid if that regulation did apply;

• "a relevant authority" is an authority identified in column (1) of the Table in Part IV, and

• "relevant benefit" means income support, invalidity benefit, retirement pension, severe disablement allowance or sickness benefit, in a case where a claimant who is in receipt of housing benefit or council tax benefit, as the case may be, is also in receipt of income support.

PART IIHOUSING BENEFIT SAVINGS

Addition to housing benefit subsidy

2.-(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, in the case of a relevant authority where the savings which are the sum of (A + D) are greater than H, the addition for that authority shall be 10 per cent. of the sum calculated by applying the following formula-

(2) In the case of an authority where the savings which are the sum of (A + D) are greater than G, the addition for that authority shall be the sum calculated for that authority in sub-paragraph (1) above plus 10 per cent. of the sum calculated by applying the following formula-

3. In the case of a relevant authority where the savings which are the sum of (A + D) do not exceed H, but do exceed I, there shall be no addition or deduction under this Part for that authority.

Deduction from housing benefit subsidy

4.-(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below, in the case of a relevant authority where the savings which are the sum of (A + D) are less than I, the deduction for that authority shall be 20 per cent. of the sum calculated by applying the following formula-

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3) below, in the case of an authority where the savings which are the sum of (A + D) are less than J, the deduction for that authority shall be the sum calculated for that authority in sub-paragraph (1) above together with a further amount of 30 per cent. of the sum calculated by applying the following formula-

(3) In a case where the value of G for a relevant authority is less than £60,000, there shall be no deduction for that authority.

PART IIICOUNCIL TAX BENEFIT SAVINGS

Council tax benefit savings

5.-(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, in the case of an authority where the savings which are the sum of (A + D) are greater than H, the addition for that authority shall be 10 per cent. of the sum calculated by applying the following formula-

(2) In the case of an authority where the savings which are the sum of (A + D) are greater than G, the addition for that authority shall be the sum calculated for that authority in sub-paragraph (1) above plus 10 per cent. of the sum calculated by applying the following formula-

6. In the case of an authority where the savings which are the sum of (A + D) do not exceed H, but do exceed I, there shall be no addition or deduction under this Part for that authority.

Deduction from council tax benefit subsidy

7.-(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below, in the case of an authority where the savings which are the sum of (A + D) are less than I, the deduction for that authority shall be 20 per cent. of the sum calculated by applying the following formula-

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3) below, in the case of an authority where the savings which are the sum of (A + D) are less than J, the deduction for that authority shall be the amount calculated for that authority in sub-paragraph (1) above, together with a further amount of 30 per cent. of the sum calculated by applying the following formula-

(3) In a case where the value of G for a relevant authority is less than £60,000, there shall be no deduction for that authority.

PART IVTABLE

8. The Table referred to in this Schedule is as follows:

Schedules 1 and 2

SCHEDULE 10PRESCRIBED CASELOAD FIGURES