Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 1997 and shall come into force on 7th April 1997.

(2) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires-

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

"the Up-rating Order" means the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 1997(3).

Exceptions relating to payment of additional benefit under awards made before the commencing date

2. Section 155(3) of the Administration Act (effect of alteration of rates of benefit under Parts II to V of the Contributions and Benefits Act) shall not apply if a question arises as to either-

(a)the weekly rate at which the benefit is payable by virtue of the Up-rating Order; or

(b)whether the conditions for receipt of the benefit at the altered rate are satisfied;

until that question has been determined in accordance with the provisions of the Administration Act.

Persons not ordinarily resident in Great Britain

3. Regulation 5 of the Social Security Benefit (Persons Abroad) Regulations 1975(4) (application of disqualifications in respect of up-rating of benefits) shall apply to any additional benefit payable by virtue of the Up-rating Order.

Amendment of the Social Security (General Benefit) Regulations 1982

4. In regulation 16 of the Social Security (General Benefit) Regulations 1982(5) (earnings level for the purpose of unemployability supplement) for the sum of "£2,366.00" there shall be substituted the sum of "£2,418.00".

Amendment of the Social Security Benefit (Dependency) Regulations 1977

5. In paragraph 2B of Schedule 2 to the Social Security Benefit (Dependency) Regulations 1977(6) (prescribed circumstances for increase of invalid care allowance) in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) for the sum of "£130" there shall be substituted the sum of "£135".

Amendment of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Regulations 1994

6. In regulation 8 of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Regulations 1994(7) (limit of earnings from councillor's allowance) for the sum of "£45.50" there shall be substituted the sum of "£46.50".

Revocation

7. The Social Security Benefit Up-rating Regulations 1996(8) are hereby revoked.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

This instrument contains only provisions in consequence of an order under section 150 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (up-rating of benefits). Accordingly, by virtue of paragraphs 3 and 12 of Schedule 7 to that Act, the Secretary of State has not referred these Regulations to the Social Security Advisory Committee or to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.

Regulation 2 provides that where a question has arisen about the effect of the Up-rating Order (defined in regulation 1(2) of these Regulations) on a benefit already in payment, the altered rates will not apply until that question is determined by an adjudicating authority.

Regulation 3 applies the provisions of regulation 5 of the Social Security Benefits (Persons Abroad) Regulations 1975 so as to restrict the application of the increase specified in the Up-rating Order in cases where the beneficiary lives abroad.

Regulation 4 raises from £2,366.00 to £2,418.00 a year the earnings limit which applies to unemployability supplement.

Regulation 5 raises from £130.00 to £135.00 the earnings limits for child dependency increases payable with invalid care allowance.

Regulation 6 raises from £45.50 to £46.50 the limit of earnings from a councillor's allowance in relation to incapacity benefit; this figure is also relevant for the purposes of severe disablement allowance by virtue of regulation 8A of the Social Security (Severe Disablement Allowance) Regulations 1984 (S.I. 1984/1303).

Regulation 7 contains a revocation consequential upon the coming into force of these Regulations.

These Regulations do not impose any costs on business.