The Disability Working Allowance (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992

Notional income

29.—(1) A claimant shall be treated as possessing income of which he has deprived himself for the purpose of securing entitlement to disability working allowance or increasing the amount of that benefit.

(2) Except in the case of a discretionary trust or a trust derived from a payment made in consequence of a personal injury, any income which would become available to the claimant upon application being made, but which has not been acquired by him, shall be treated as possessed by the claimant.

(3) Any payment of income, other than a payment of income made under the Macfarlane Trust, the Macfarlane (Special Payments) Trust, the Macfarlane (Special Payments) (No. 2) Trust or the Independent Living Fund, made—

(a) to a third party in respect of a single claimant or a member of the family (but not a member of the third party’s family) shall be treated as possessed by that single claimant or member of the family to the extent that it is used for his food, ordinary clothing or footwear, household fuel or housing costs; and in this sub-paragraph “ordinary clothing or footwear” means clothing or footwear for normal daily use, but does not include school uniforms, or clothing or footwear used solely for sporting activities;

(b) to a single claimant or member of the family in respect of a third party (but not in respect of another member of that family) shall be treated as possessed by that single claimant or member of the family to the extent that it is kept by him or used by or on behalf of any member of the family.

(4) Where—

(a) a claimant performs a service for another person; and

(b) that person makes no payment of earnings or pays less than that paid for a comparable employment in the area,

the adjudication officer shall treat the claimant as possessing such earnings (if any) as is reasonable for that employment unless the claimant satisfies him that the means of that person are insufficient for him to pay or to pay more for the service; but this paragraph shall not apply to a claimant who is engaged by a charitable or voluntary body or is a volunteer if the adjudication officer is satisfied that it is reasonable for him to provide his services free of charge.

(5) Where a claimant is treated as possessing any income under any of paragraphs (1) to (3), the foregoing provisions of this Part shall apply for the purposes of calculating the amount of that income as if a payment had actually been made and as if it were actual income which he does possess.

(6) Where a claimant is treated as possessing any earnings under paragraph (4), the foregoing provisions of this Part shall apply for the purposes of calculating the amount of those earnings as if a payment had actually been made and as if they were actual earnings which he does possess, except that regulation 22(3) (calculation of net earnings of employed earners) shall not apply and his net earnings shall be calculated by taking into account those earnings which he is treated as possessing, less—

(a) an amount in respect of income tax equivalent to an amount calculated by applying to those earnings the basic rate of tax in the year of assessment in which the claim was made less only the personal relief to which the claimant is entitled under sections 257(1), (6) and (7) and 259 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (personal relief) as is appropriate to his circumstances; but, if the assessment period is less than a year, the amount of the personal relief deductible under this sub-paragraph shall be calculated on a pro rata basis;

(b) an amount in respect of primary Class 1 contributions under the principal Act equivalent to an amount calculated by applying to those earnings the appropriate primary percentage applicable at the date of claim; and

(c) one half of any sum payable by the claimant by way of a contribution towards an occupational or personal pension scheme.